Draft Mania Has Begun With...Yes...a Trade

We are 48 hours away from the NBA draft and a major trade has gone down in the association.

The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto.


This move is very clear from both sides. The Spurs needed to get younger and add some more perimeter scoring, they have done that successfully with Jefferson.

The Bucks needed to stay away from the luxury tax as they are trying to resign restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva.

To the Coach this is a steal for the Spurs and an unfortunate MUST DO for the Bucks.
The Spurs if healthy will have a chance to be in a great position to challenge the Lakers for the Western Conference next season. San Antonio will have to add another big to play with and behind Duncan, but know with Jefferson in the mix it needs to be a role player who can defend and rebound, not necessarily score. Antonio McDyess anyone?
He can play the 4 or 5, defend the post and knock down the mid range jumper, he must be on the Spurs radar.

With draft night less than 48 hours away this is just the beginning of a flurry of moves.

Stick with the Coach to carry you through the craziness during draft week and this summer.

What Champions Do...

When the Coach arrived back at the Gramercy Estate following some mother's day family dining he knew that the Game 4 waiting for him on his DVR was simply the season on the line for the Celtics. Last night's Celtic win in Orlando is simply why so many of us still watch and still care.


It was a perfect example of a team digging deep and finding a way to stay in a must win game with their somewhat fatigued and at times this post season inconsistent best player and captain leading the way despite foul trouble.



It was a team so thin on the front line finding a way to create points in the paint early and then rotate players just enough and at just the right times to stay out of serious foul trouble.


It was a six foot point guard grabbing 14 rebounds.


It was a big man with a chronically bad left shoulder battling Superman every second he was on the floor.


It was Big Baby's extra jump shooting on the day off in between games 3 and 4 clearly paying off.


It was Doc Rivers yet again drawing up a masterpiece in the huddle and the players trusting it and running it every step of the way.


It was a defending champion refusing to believe the talking heads.


It was pure guts.


It was Celtic Pride.

Say what you want about the shorthanded Celtics, be a hater, jump on the Cleveland, Orlando, Denver or LA bandwagon's, please, please do the Coach and the thousands of other Celtic die hards that favor, we don't need you or want you for that matter. This is about something more than flashy highlights, no look passes and dunks on the fast break.


This about giving 100% of yourself to the team no matter the circumstance, no matter how the deck seems to be stacked against you.


This about having your teammates back because you know he will do the same for you.


This is why basketball has the ability to be an incredible teaching tool for people whether they are young or old, no matter the location, the socioeconomic situation or the skill level.

This is why the Coach became the Coach.

Big Baby!!!

House on Fire, Tempers Rise Out West, GIVE ME MY LEAGUE BACK!!!

As Coach expected the Boston Celtics responded with a game 2 win last night to even their best of seven second round series at 1-1 with the Orlando Magic. While the Celtics are still the champs this team has become so unpredictable mainly because of injuries which we have been hearing about for weeks. Last night Eddie House and Rajon Rondo were the key ingredients that dismantled the Magic. It is very simple, with Garnett out next season (yes coach has given up hope that KG is not coming through that door until the fall) the Celtics have to outscore people, which means running and being the aggressors. It starts with Rondo. When he attacks and penetrates they are a different team and he is a different player. Then guys like House and Ray Allen especially thrive in transition and knock out the 3 ball. Last night was a perfect example.

A few points about this series:
*While the Celtics were definitely a bit fatigued when game one came around it was their focus and lack of 1st half intensity that lost the game, not being tired.

*Kendrick Perkins is handling Dwight Howard pretty well. Howard is going to get a certain amount of rebounds each night, there is nothing you can do about it. What you must limit are his touches within seven feet of the hoop and limit his offensive rebound opportunities. The man of course is going to be in double digits in defensive rebounds unless the Celtics just don't miss.

*The Celtics back court is KEY in the series. Rondo, Allen, House and Marbury should be able to destroy Orlando's thin and slow back court.

*Paul Pierce is well rested as the Celtics go on the road to Orlando, he only played 16 minutes in game 2, scary if you are the Magic.

*Rafer Alston slapping Ed House in the head was one of the dumbest things I have seen a player do when getting their ass kicked in a long time. You have now fired up the champs and the Hot House even more so for their trip to Disney World. BRILLIANT!!!

Last night out west the Lakers evened things up with the Rockets at 1-1 as Kobe Bryant took matters into his own hands delivering 40 points. While Kobe's scoring was of course huge for the Lakers it was the escalating physical play in his match-up with Ron Artest that needs to be discussed along with the actions of Derek Fisher and the officiating decisions. The Kobe Artest match-up has the potential to be more than just memorable. These are two of the most unique players we have ever seen who play to their strengths and will never ever give in. The Kobe elbow to Artest's throat on a box out in the 4th quarter prompted Artest to charge Kobe and lead to his ejection. Was it an intentional dirty play by KB24? I don't think so, but have you ever been elbowed, punched or kicked in the throat? Coach has, and that shit not only hurts but it is scary as all hell. I can't fault Artest for that reaction, he simply was going to send a very clear message that he will not allow that again from Kobe, can you blame him? Now the question I have is this: if that were Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups or Brandon Roy who got caught with an elbow and then charged Kobe the way Artest did would they be thrown out? I think not. I think Artest was a victim of his own history last night which is too bad because he is playing great basketball.

Derek Fisher was also shown the door last night as he jacked up Luis Scola as Scola was setting a ball screen on him. Fisher obviously wanted to send a message that the Lakers were not going to be pushed around by the Rockets but for Fish to do it in such a manner on an open court pick and roll situation was some what foolish. I don't happen to agree with the ejection as that was a flagrant foul level one at worst.

That leads me to say this: GIVE ME MY LEAGUE BACK!!! The style of play, aggression and trash talking should not be dictated by the fact that there is more tv and internet coverage than ever before. It is ridiculous. DO I want guys to get hurt? NO. Do I want to see cheap shots? Hell No. But a clean hard foul is a clean hard foul. When 2 big, strong, explosive athletic bodies met in mid air and one is trying to yam on the others head in front of 20,000 people in person and millions watching the guy defending the hoop, his team and his city is going to make some body contact from time to time. As long as it is without intent to injure and there is a play being made on the ball then it should be accepted as part of the game.

Some of the best postseason basketball we have seen in the past 25-30 years involved very physical competitive play. The Celtics battles with Philly, LA and Detroit were second to none throughout the 80's. The Bulls battling the Bad Boys for 4 straight years and finally breaking through in 1991 was unreal. The Knick battles with the Bulls, Heat and Pacers were fierce.

Obviously as a Celtics fan the Coach loves how hard his team plays. This Lakers Rockets series has the potential to be a great one, I just hope the officials and the league are able to keep the players on the court for what could be a classic seven game battle.

One last thing: I know Lebron is the MVP, Congrats Thy King, but having the Celtics and Lakers play on the same night is not cool. I know the Cavs have the best record but Boston v Orlando and Houston v LA are going to be the best 2nd round matchups, why not market the Cavs and Lakers on the same night? King at 8, Kobe at 10:30? Of course the Coach is looking out for himself on this one.

Playoffs 2009...Brace Yourself

With so much happening in the few days before the playoffs involving the defending champs I chose not to do a playoff preview. Instead you will be getting playoff analysis throughout the first round with some picks later down the line. As bad as things appeared for the Celtics last week before game one referring to KG’s injury and Danny Ainge’s minor heart attack (he is comfortable and out of the hospital) they got worse once the game started on Saturday. After a full Saturday of clinics, practice and workouts Coach returned home to the Gramercy Estate to watch the game which thanks to DVR was awaiting me. I really had idea what I was in for. Let me say this before I speak on the outstanding performances, the Celtics lost that game early, I mean first half early. When you are a home favorite and your motto is intensity and defense, you have to come out with those two things as the PRIORITY. The Bulls were able to get into the paint with ease and played harder than the Celtics in the first half, hence their continued rise in confidence throughout the game . Paul Pierce can’t take 4 shots in the first half of any playoff game especially one as significant as this one.

Derrick Rose. Wow. That is all I could keep saying which each possession. While his confidence grew his calm stayed as steady as Harry Callahan preventing a bank robbery while chomping on his lunch time frank. When the Celtics went under the screen on pick and roll he’d calmly nail the mid range jumper. When Rondo or Marbury came out to pressure him he’d patiently wait until the floor was spread properly and then drive it to the tin. When body contact came from the help defense he’d take it and make the Celts pay from the line. Wow. Wow. Wow. His explosiveness not only on the break but also in traffic is something we have not seen in a while from a point guard. I am not saying he is on par with CP3 or Deron, but his game one performance leads me to think that is the fast track he is on.
The third quarter of that game was a track meet as Rajon Rondo and Rose simply went at it. Going up and down like juiced up race cars attacking the basket at every opportunity and taking the crowd to a very exciting level in Boston. KG was unable to handle sitting on the bench for the second half as his level of anxiety was just too much, he chose to watch the 2nd stanza and OT from the locker room. With or without KG on the bench there was nothing to stop Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas as they started hitting late which signaled doom for the Celtics in game one. Pierce played a terrific second half but Ray Allen, Ed House and Leon Powe did very little to help the Captain in the scoring department as the Bulls earned, not stole, earned their victory in game one. Game 2 should bring some desperation from the Champs as it is a MUST win. (Just a side note, KG was reportedly was in full practice gear on Sunday as I am sure he is mentally willing his knee to reach a level where he can run, we all wish it were that easy.)
In the east the series that many including myself would be most intriguing got started in blowout fashion last night in Atlanta as the Hawks dismantled the Heat 90-64, which included a 35 point 2nd quarter and then held the Heat to a seven point 4th quarter, really? Seven points? Seven? Really? The Heat have their work cut out for them as the Hawks look like a team that is real locked in. Atlanta took last year’s first round experience and applied what they learned from that seven gamer against Boston to growing this season and now look like a team that could potentially give anyone a headache (most likely Cleveland) in the second round. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby, Al Horford and Marvin Williams are going to be too much for the Heat to handle. Atlanta needs to keep the pressure on and keep running. Miami does not have the size, length or experience to stop the Hawks if they are playing at the top of their game. Yes, I know how great Dwayne Wade is, and yes, he is battle tested in the post-season but this Miami team is not. Atlanta needs to get this series over with in 5 games so they can get ready for thy King and Co. from Cleveland.
The first real onions shout out goes to Andre Iguodala as last night in Philly he made one ridiculous buzzer beater that felt like the final seconds of a Bauer rescue. Not only did AI recue his team, he rescued himself from a world of criticism as just moments earlier he missed a pair of free throws with Philly trailing by one point. The Philly comeback itself was down right unbelievable as they trailed the heavily favored Magic by 18 points with one minute to go in the 3rd quarter before a furious rally. As well as the Sixers played in the 4th (which included 3 three pointers by non other than Donyell Marshall, Bob Horry like last night, anyone?) are the Magic serious? You are the #3 seed, you have Dwight Howard, you are home up 18 and blow the game? A perfect example of a few things: 1) Dwight Howard is not yet an elite player. 2) Stan Van Gundy is not a great coach. 3) Orlando is no threat to win the East. If you need more reasons, leave a comment and I’ll help you out.
Out west the Lakers did what was expected, handled their business in Game one against Utah. Every time the Jazz seemed to be on the verge of making a run the Lakers would make that staggering play. A Trevor Ariza reverse dunk on the fast break, a Kobe dagger, a Gasol put back. That is what the great teams do, they don’t let visitors especially in the first round make runs on their home court. You hear that Celtics? Magic? Spurs? Blazers?
The Spurs seem tired and somewhat overwhelmed entering yet another series against Dallas, this time without Manu Ginobilli. The Mavs, who were in danger of not being in the playoffs mid way through the year are surging as there is a fine balance and a new level of confidence they are now playing with. After a full season you can see the benefits of Jason Kidd’s leadership, Dirk Nowitski’s efficiency (I know he did not have a big game one but he had a terrific season under Rick Carlisle) and backcourt depth featuring Jose Berea and Jason Terry. The Spurs are the first round favorite in the most trouble right now after one game. Yes, more than Boston and Orlando, and though Portland has home court many favored the Roc kets including the Coach. Houston man handled the Blazers in game one as Yao Ming and Luis Scola combined to go 16-18 from the floor, showing just how strong the Rockets are upfront. Combine that with Aaron Brooks’ 27 point 7 assist effort from the 1 and the Blazers didn’t stand a chance. As talented as the Blazers are they are facing a veteran team who is starving for a playoff series victory. Houston has not moved on in a series since their line included Charles Barkley, Matt Maloney, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon. One prediction I will make now and stand by is the Rockets will give the Lakers all they can handle in the second round, you can count on it.

Many hoop heads found themselves doing double takes when Denver grabbed the two seed in the west. When the Nuggets acquired Chauncy Billups earlier this season most thought it was to get rid of Allen Iverson and remain respectable. Well that was not Chauncy’s goal as his leadership, toughness and game gave so much to Denver this season. It took needed pressure off of Carmelo Anthony on the court and George Karl on the sideline. Karl had not had an extension of himself on the court since he coach Gary Payton and Billups finally provided that. Plain and simple Billups must be mentioned in that second tier of MVP candidates behind LeBron, D Wade and Kobe this season, he is the reason Denver had the year they had and his eight three pointers made in game one remind everyone of what a money player he is in the post season. The Hornets are wishing they drew the Spurs in the first round.
Lets hope the Bulls beat the Celtics tonight so tomorrow can be a positive recovery day for Danny Ainge...

A Blogging Hiatus...a regret but needed

So the Coach has been getting some heat for being away from the blog for a while and rightly so, well, maybe. As many of you know the Coach lives an action packed life, and in order to live that life one needs a certain amount of paper in the account to do so, which is part of the reason why you have not heard from the coach. The other of course has been the NCAA tournament which needs my full attention, so doing any sort of madness blog as fun as it would be to read has not been possible simply because I have been glued to the screen.

I am not going to lie, it has been an odd stretch since my last post which had Marbury land with the Celtics. Since then though the Celtics have been tough to watch and talk about simply because KG was still out and the team was starting to really labor without him. The injury bug continued to hit, next taking Rondo, then Baby, now Leon, all while Tony Allen (thumb) and Brian Scalabrine (post concussion syndrome) are out indefinitely. At first I wasn't nervous as I thought the rest would do KG just fine for the playoff run as long as he came back when the knee was ready. But here is coach's current concern: will the chemistry be there when the second season starts next month? That is the chief concern along side getting EVERYONE healthy.

Now some of you are sitting there actually thinking about the Celtics while others are saying "I still don't understand why three weeks have past since his last blog?" Like I mentioned above things have been happening so when I say "things" I mean my basketball program that I launched last fall in NYC, Five-Star Basketball NY. We have gone from instruction, programs to clinics and training now to travel/AAU teams and training this spring, it has taken up a lot of time. Coach is also recruiting public school players for his prep school program in lower Manhattan for next fall and beyond.

One thing I regret not blogging live was the 6-OT Syracuse UCONN game that Coach caught live with the Pistol during the Big East Tournament, that was something special, something memorable and something exhausting. Flynn, John Flynn was like no player I have ever seen in a multiple overtime situation, he refused to let fatigue set it, he is a special player. Speaking of special how great was Sunday? Pittsburgh and Louisville both pushed to the final minutes by Siena and Oklahoma State, awesome. Coach loved day one at home then at Barfly for the night games and day two last Friday which was quite the day and night. Friday was a marathon day of viewing as some of my boys I don't see much met me in the neighborhood for the afternoon games. With Cornell on at 3pm against Missouri I was real hyped up to see my man Steve D and the Big Red give Missouri everything they could handle, well for about 25 minutes.


Saturday evening's thrillers were viewed from one of the hottest birthday parties in the tri-state area as the Dude turned a real crusty 31. But there was nothing like Sunday at home, bagel spread, iced coffee, blackberry in the other room, one bracket out on the table just watching the games. Appreciating each big hoop, each time Raf said onions, each time Gus Johnson's voice went from grown man to pubescent teen and each time a player would sacrifice their body for the good of the team is what the Madness is all about for the Coach.

Coach is on his way to Island Garden to go over some AAU scheduling for the upcoming Spring season, followed by a trip to the South Shore for some family insanity, well hopefully it will only be dinner.

Spring is almost here which means I am grabbing and icy joint.

The Sweet Sixteen awaits, Coach will be back sooner than you think...

MARBURY A CELTIC...It is Official

So today is the day. I know many of you have been waiting for this day just to snicker or perhaps some of you want to see the Coach blow a gasket. Others are surely going to be rooting hard for this to fail, and fail miserably. But Coach is going to keep the faith, keep it even though his favorite team, heck one of his favorite things in life is about to let in the ultimate NO into their family. That is correct, today is the day the Boston Celtics sign Stephon Marbury for the remainder of the season. (I have a shooting pain in my left shoulder, no shortness of breath...yet) The Celtics hungry for depth in the backcourt and scoring from the wing definitely get that from Marbury if he is able to fit in and if he is in game shape, IF.
We all know the rep. We all know the locker room stories. We saw the decline of his sanity while playing under the Thomas / Dolan regime. The Sunday night on Mike’d Up (Mike was out with Chicken Parm-itis that night and Ithaca’s College’s own Bruce Beck filled in admirably, BOMBERS!!!) when Marbury was acting as if he were on a combination of meds that Richard Dreyfuss and Chevy Chase used to hammer down before their epic 80’s film shoots. Do we all remember this? The beautiful thing here is that I don’t even have to start quoting the interview because Coach has it below. This really is one of the oddest, disturbing and entertaining 9 plus minutes of live television the Coach has ever seen (I feel blessed that I saw this live with Pistol, Wolf and crew back in the tree house days)



There never was any doubt in Marbury’s physical gifts. Strong, explosive, and quick at the point with a very good jumper both off the bounce and on the catch. He could iso you or play the pick n roll game, as well as be very very good in transition. But his career has not been defined by that. It has been defined by him demanding out of Minnesota (how does a 3rd year point guard at the age of 21 want to leave Kevin Garnett?) then being the guy the Nets traded to the Suns to get Jason Kidd, and of course coming back home to New York in the ideal situation to lead the Knicks back to respectability and having it become one of the biggest soap opera’s this proud basketball city has ever seen. The thing about Marbury on the court that fails him is that while his career average for assists is just under 8 per game he never became a floor general that raised the level of play of his teammates. The greats do that. Point guards like Magic, J-Kidd, The Glove, Zeke, Nash and CP3 not only get their numbers they raise the bar for their supporting cast. Allen Iverson who has had his critics since he entered the league was a guy that was always being mentioned in the same conversation with Marbury. But unlike Marbury, Iverson’s desire, will to win and ability to inspire his teammates got him to an NBA final back in 2001. Do you remember his supporting cast? Coach sure does, Big Deke, Aaron McKie, Tyrone Hill, Eric Snow, Derrick Coleman and George Lynch. Marbury in his prime was arguably as talented as AI, but it was everything else that goes with it that has been missing with guy.

As a Celtics fan I am trying to be objective and put personal feelings aside but it is a challenge. Back in the summer of 2005 I was directing basketball camps in Manhattan at Basketball City we had a week of Marbury camp. Usually when the player puts his name on a camp they show up 2 or 3 of the days out of the 5 day week. Showing face is good for everybody, the kids, the facility, and most importantly the player. Well Stephon showed up exactly once, on the last afternoon. When he walked into the bubble he immediately rubbed the Coach the wrong way as he didn’t take the time to say hello to any of our coaching staff who had been working hard with the kids to give them a great experience all week. Marbury then demanded that each kid get a basketball and spread themselves out over 2 of the basketball courts. So there we are 100 plus kids and Starbury with the staff waiting to see what he wants to do, maybe some ball handling, perhaps a story from when he was a youngster in Coney Island that could lead into a drill that he used to do on the playground that we could show the kids, nope. He told each kid that when he holds his hand to his hear they need to scream “I love this game.” That was just the beginning. He told them you have to want it to get somewhere in this game, yes, yes Stephon you do, you have WANT IT if you want to get anywhere in this world. So his instruction to them was this, “Everyone has to hold the ball over their head, last one to put it down gets $20.” That was it. That is what he brought to the table. Now I understand he came from a tough upbringing but these are city kids who paid to go to his camp. The look on some of the coaches face’s were priceless as we sat there and watched him make fun of kids whose arms got tired. In the end it was just a big joke to him, a quick 15K to give to his brother who sat on his rear all week off to the side yapping on his cell piece.

From the Celtics perspective this is worth the risk and I will explain why in clear Coachness terms. The Green have 2 needs. Marbury IF in shape and behaved fits them both. They need another ball handler off the bench and they need more scoring from the perimeter. As well as Ed House has played the last two seasons he is not the player you want handling the ball with the second unit on the court, he is however the guy you want shooting it. Marbury’s ability to create on the dribble, penetrate and yes pass will prove to be very valuable to the Celtics who will now have the opportunity to find a few extra minutes of rest for Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo if needed. A lineup that includes Marbury and House with either Pierce or Allen playing with the front court reserves (Yes, I know they signed Mikki Moore, another on the long list of guys that owes J-Kidd a royalty check each month) is quite an explosive combination of scoring from the perimeter.

I wonder what the first conversation in person will be like when Garnett and Marbury interact, Coach would do anything to be in that room. Would Steph finally say to KG, “So this is what I have been missing out on because I have been a complete clown?” Would KG simply say “Welcome old friend, this is an opportunity of a lifetime, but if you f#*k with this chemistry I’ll put you in the river Jimmy Markum style?” I am sure there was a sit down with Doc and the Big Three today. I am sure the law was laid down. I am sure there were handshakes, nods, looks of intensity as this team is about one thing, winning. But what Doc, Danny, the fans, the critics, the players and Marbury do not yet know is whether or not this will work. For the sake of Marbury’s basketball future and present he better make it work…Marbury in the glorious green and white begins tonight at the Garden, 7:30 tip against the Pacers. I'll be takinig a deep breath and hoping for the best...