So I’m reading a post on OTR Basketball where a poster is taking ESPN’s Bill Simmons opinion of Joe Dumars’ GM’enship, with an emphasis on the Iverson trade, as the gospel.  Then,  I realized why I’m of the opinion that Bill Simmons blows leprechaun balls.  Here’s a passage that I took particular exception to:

but remember, he’s the same guy who botched the Darko pick, hired Flip Saunders, overpaid Nazr Mohammed, shoved Carlos Delfino down your throats, pushed out Larry Brown and badly misjudged Mehmet Okur. He’s not a genius. He’s a solid GM who made some good moves and some bad ones, and he definitely held on to the 2004 nucleus for about 18 months too long. It’s OK to lightly question the direction of this team without feeling like an ingrate. Really, it is. You are within your rights. The five-year grace period is almost up.

The Darko pick, yeah that was bad. I don’t think Joe is the only GM who would have taken Milicic, but I’ll give Simmons that one.

Flip Saunders, best coach available after the Larry Brown thing went down.

Nazr Mohammed, best pivot Joe could get after Ben bolted. How about if Joe had overpaid Ben Wallace like Chicago had? That would have been a bad move. Remember how Joe got rid of Nazr and his contract for two expiring contracts in Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann? Then Herrmann turns out to be a very solid member of the Pistons bench.

I don’t remember Joe pushing Delfino down anyone’s throat. Anyone who watched Carlos in the Olympics over the summer understands the guy has talent. Joe and the Pistons gave Delfino chances to prove himself as an NBA talent but he was too much of a primadonna. He was never forced down our throats though. When he played well he earned minutes OFF THE BENCH, when he didn’t he sat.

Pushed Larry Brown out? That’s how little Simmons is actually paying attention. First off it was owner Bill Davidson’s call to give LB his walking papers. Anyone who knows anything about Brown’s history knows the guy loves to courted and he was talking to the Cavs about a position while the Pistons were making a run at back-to-back titles. That’s unacceptable.

None one misjudged Mehmet Okur. Everyone knew the guy was a baller. We wanted to keep him but it was a choice between paying him or paying Rasheed Wallace who’d just proved to be the Pistons x-factor in winning the 2004 title.

It’s clear that Simmons, a life long Celtics fan, just has an ax to grind with the rival Pistons.

Look, I’m not completely sold on the Iverson trade myself. I love Chauncey’s game and have never been a big Iverson fan. But we’re still a contender. I don’t think we’re any worse, but probably not any better than had the trade not been made.

But, the financial benefits are a no brainer. If we’ll still be in the mix AND have an obscene amount of money to throw at free agents isn’t that the move a good GM?

As for the Pistons not being able to land any big name free agents don’t you think that’s just wishful thinking on the part of a life long Celtics fan?

Kevin Garnett, part of the team nominated for sportsmen of the year, really loves to talk.

Love the way Toronto’s Jose Calderon goes back at Garnuttsack.

Similarly, I wish someone would post the vid of KG flapping his gums at our guy Will Bynum the other night to which Bynum simply crosses him up snapping him at the ankles leaving KG to inbound the ball wearing the hoe face.

Link attributive: NESW Sports

With a confrontation with the Celtics at the Palace looming I wanted to address something that I know Pistons Nation is bothered by … the Rasheed Wallace / Kevin Garnett bro-mance during the ECF.  I mean even Sheed’s teammates weren’t cool with it.

Respect your opponent, but don’t slow dance with ‘em at half court.  That’s not Bad Boys, that’s just bad.  Rasheed showed more competitive fire towards the cameraman than he did towards the Celtics.

So, I’d to implore Rasheed to remember the words of an Pistons’ immortal, Rick Mahorn, when it comes to these types of things: “I’m not friendly to anybody. When the game starts I’m punching you in the mouth” (and, it doesn’t matter who you are)

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Sports Illustrated will be naming their “Sportsman of the Year” on December 2nd.  Their writers are writing up nomination essays.  Here’s a little excerpt from one such essay by Ian Thomsen:

“The 2007-08 Celtics are my Sportsmen of the Year because they embraced the least respected and most valuable quality of NBA millionaires: humility.  Each sought to play not for himself but for the team.”

First off, is  Ian Thomsen a pen name for Bill Simmons?  That’s the only person I could see putting Celtics and sportsmen in the same breath.  I realize he’s equating sacrificing stats and individual accolades for the greater good of the team yadda yadda yadda, but he could have thumbed through a thesaurus for a more applicable word than humility.

Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person.  Does that sound like the Boston Celtics?

They were the opposite of humble.  They proved to be the biggest jerks in the league last season.  We’re talking about the same Celtics that embarrassed their coach by getting into a trash fest with the the lowly Knick on MLK Day.  Or how about celebrating like they won the championship in January at the Palace?  Complete with trash talking the crowd.

Lest we forget Paul Pierce throwing up gang signs during a nationally televised playoff game? Or how about the team’s emotional leader, KG?  The guy who had to be restrained from going after a mascot?  Garnett, so humble he went into extended jersey popping mode after beating the Timberwolves who were 7-35 at the time.

Has it been such a bad year for sportsmanship that the these same Celtics are garnering nominations?  Is it too late to get in a vote in for Pacman Jones?

This is from the Pacer’s blog Indy Cornrows.  Bill Laimbeer and his top seeded Detroit Shock are in Indy to start their best of three opening round playoff matchup with the Indiana Fever.  Today Lambs was on the air being interviewed with 1070 The Fan’s Eddie White and Bob Kravitz.

Bill had some pretty entertaining things to say when the a certain Bean Town rival was brought up:

Kravitz: When you come to Indianapolis in a situation like this can we assume you and Larry Bird will be going out and having a couple of cocktails together.

Laimbeer: Larry Bird?

Kravitz: Talk about the old days

Laimbeer: He’s here in Indiana? (sarcasm oozing)

Kravitz: Yeah.

Laimbeer: Oh .. Oh, that’s right I did, I heard he works for the Pacers now.

Kravitz: He does have a job. We’re very happy about that.

Laimbeer: I don’t really pay attention to how they’re doing. Have they made the playoffs the last few years?

Kravitz: Uhh, I don’t believe so, I’ll have to check the books on that one.

Laimbeer: That’d drive me nuts, boy.

Kravitz: Not making the playoffs?

Laimbeer: I mean, not competing for the championship and being in the playoffs.

Kravitz: And everyone makes the playoffs.

Laimbeer: I’d probably quit.

It’s refreshing to see Bill with the hands still wrapped and the gloves still on.  I think it’s safe to say you wouldn’t see Bird throwing down on some Madden ‘09 if MTV cribs were to stop by Bill’s pad.  Gotta respect Lambs dedication to the rivalry.

I wont steal all of ICr’s thunder, so you should click on over and check out the rest of the interview transcript.



I’m not even going to get into how talented this guy is because that goes with out saying so there’s no need to preface it. This guy is immature and classless. By the way, I don’t personally know him so I’m referring to the basketball player, so there’s no need to tell me what a philanthropist he is off the court. The C’s beat Garnett’s former team, the 7-35 Timberwolves, last night in Boston by ONE POINT and Garnett is goes into extended jersey popping mode. Nice sportsmanship.


(AP Photo / Charles Krupa)

Since Garnett has come on board the Celtics have been transformed into a band of trash talkers. I understand the whole “winning” thing is new to them but at some point you they might want to actually act like winners.

UPDATE:

In case anyone reading this thinks I’m overreacting to an isolated incident I’ve added some other examples in comments to illustrate my point.

Here’s some quotes I’ve come across on the ever building resurgence of a Pistons/Celtics rivalry

Bill Laimbeer - “The era that I grew up was very intense competition,” says Bill Laimbeer. “It was almost hatred of the other team and it still holds to this day on any players of those teams. Your teammates are all that matter and the other team is the enemy. There were some bitter rivalries and some bitter feelings … and I still won’t talk to Larry Bird.”



Isiah Thomas - “It was extremely personal [..] you just wanted to beat the (expletive) out of them, [..]I’ll say hello, but I’ll never be friends with them, [..] there’s no personal dislike. (pause) … We’re Pistons, they’re Celtics”



…Quotes via Pistons.com: Hatred No Longer A Part Of The NBA

Chucky Atkins - “The thing about Detroit that separates them from Boston right now is, they’ve been through wars together,” Atkins said. “When it gets tough, they know they can rely on each other. Boston might have a good record, but they haven’t really been in any wars with anyone yet. So that could be the story toward the end of the year.”



Adrian Dantley - “I can see that being a good series,” Dantley said. “And that rivalry happening again.”



…Quotes via Denver Post: Celtics show “bad” attitude






By the way…

In unrelated former Pistons news; Chris Webber told a Sacramento T.V. reporter he’ll be back in two weeks. No confirmation on who he’ll be signing with though.

Special thanks to PN contributer Jay Scott for putting this together

Pistons 87, Celtics 85: A Full House Beats Three of A Kind

What’s happening fellow Piston fans? Fresh off another one of those (don’t call it a) statement games, this time with the newest flavor of the month team the Boston Celtics, the main things I learned about the Pistons would be that this team is as savvy as it gets when it comes to high pressure situations. They did to the Celtics what they have done to every flavor of the month East team this decade, which was go into their environment, when the entire country was rooting against them and humble them.The meat and potatoes of the game: Pistons win 87-85 on two free throws by Chauncey Billups with just 0.1 seconds left (Which isn’t even enough time for Knicks security to kick out another fan with a “Fire Isiah” sign). Chauncey got to the line after he pump faked Tony Allen out of his shoes and into a foul. But that game had no business coming down to that final attempt. Both sides would agree. KG was his usual self (26 points, 12 Boards). Ray Allen Was A Beast, dropping 24 including two killer triples in the 4th. Rip had 21, and Chauncey scored 28. The Celtics led for most of the first three quarters, including being up 10 in the third. But there was just never a sense that they had this one sewn up. My Mother, a basketball fan for as long as the game has existed, has a saying for games like Wednesday’s: “If They Tie It Up, They Are Going To Beat Them”. I was thinking the same thing as I noticed the Pistons would widdle the lead back down to 1, then watch it balloon back to 8 or 10. If they tie it, they will win it because they have broken the opponent’s spirit, which is exactly what happened. If it weren’t for Ray Allen (who scares the crap out of me when he has the ball behind the three-point line), that could’ve been a 12-17 point Pistons win.


Here are three reasons why the Boston Celtics, despite having their vaunted “Big 3″, are not quite ready for prime time when it comes to matching up with the Pistons:

1. Rajon Rondo is Their Point Guard. Ok, now I know this cat has steadily improved this season (He Averages 9 Points and 5 Assists per game and is shooting a staggering 54% from the field this season) and he did go off for a quick 14 in the first half on Wednesday, which included him making great moves with his speed, a couple of acrobatic And-1s and I could’ve swore I saw him throw a bucket of confetti on Rasheed late in the 1st Quarter. The problem was that games aren’t won in the first quarter. What happened in the second half and on the defensive end are why this cat isn’t ready for the big time yet. He was shut out in the second half and it was horridly apparent that Chauncey must see the Burger King when Rondo comes up to guard him because he can Have it His Way All Night against him. Chauncey Torched Rondo for 28 Points, including a Dirty Dozen in the pivotal 4th quarter, which led Doc Rivers (a great PG in his career) to put Tony Allen on Chauncey late in the game. And we all know what happened there! The Celtics will lose the point guard battle every time unless hey make a serious upgrade. Paging Dr. Beyonce!

2. Kendrick Perkins is Their Center. KENDRICK PERKINS!!! Now I’m not saying this dude should be the Second Coming of Robert Parrish, but come on! This Guy Stinks! He doesn’t play defense. He Cannot Score In The Low Post. He’s Not a Shot Blocker. He averages 7 Points and 5 Boards a game! Numbers like that might get you $60 Million from the Chicago Bulls, but he’s literally stealing money from the Boston Celtics! There was a stretch on Wednesday night where on consecutive trips down the floor, Perkins threw one ball away, blew a sure 2-Foot Lay up, and fumbled the ball out of bounds. Plus, one cannot forget the stiff rejection he took from Rasheed in the 4th quarter when anybody in Celtic Green not named Ray Allen could not find the bottom of the basket. At least when Ben Wallace was scoring 6 Points a night for the Pistons, he would grab 12 boards, make great defensive plays and block shots. I Think I Saw Perkins eating a Sandwich in the lane while Rip went around him on Wednesday. Simply put, The Pistons have three guys on their bench that could start at Center for the Boston Celtics…which Brings Us To Reason #3.

3. The Celtics Essentially Have No Bench. Can anyone name the reserves for the Boston Celtics? :::crickets::: Don’t worry, I’ll Wait! Times Up! Here’s what the Celtics have to offer off of the pine: James Posey, Eddie House, Scot Pollard, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis, Gabe Pruitt, and Leon Powe. That’s right, Scot Pollard is the first Big Man off of Boston’s Bench! Outside of James Posey and Eddie House (who never saw a three ball he didn’t like), Boston’s bench SUCKS! Give me Jason Maxiell, Lindsey Hunter, Jarvis Hayes, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Flip Murray, Primoz Brezec, and the soon-to-return Rodney Stuckey over those slugs coming off of Boston’s bench. Look at what Lindsey did to the Celtics alone on Wednesday. He came up with three steals, played tough defense, hit a baseline J, and later a triple that gave the Pistons a 68-67 lead (and they would not trail again). When it comes to the Bench, The edge goes to Detroit hands down!

There you have it! The Celtics are a Good team with a great record and three stand out starters (albeit I think Paul Pierce is overrated). While K.G. will be K.G. and Ray Allen apparently inherited Reggie Miller’s soul, and while they may be good enough to have the best record in the rancid Eastern Conference, let’s hold off on Crowning These Guys Asses until they Have Proven They Can Beat Teams such as Detroit, San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah, and Dallas. Thank You For Your Time. Have A Merry Christmas, and Go Pistons!



Until Next Time…Don’t Get Attached To The Flavor of the Month

Remember the comments Phil Jackson made last season about the Pistons zone defense (or lack there of)?

It took Flip a complete season, but he finally had a comeback. Who knew Flip was so witty?

The Celtics are looking for a season presenting sponsor, a marketing concept that was pioneered by the Detroit Pistons and their sponsor Rock Financial. It’s a close guarded secret as to who’s actually going to become the highly sought after sponsor of the leagues new darling, but PN has the inside scoop on who it will be…

Boston Celtics’ games will now be brought to you by Ainge’s Bistro. Like the Celtics, little known Ainge’s Bistro has a proud tradition, and boasts three star accomodations. Ainge’s is famous for having no bench…seating that is, all guest enjoy soft padded appointments.

Being the official sponsor didn’t come cheap. Ainge’s admits that the investment is a gamble, but hopefully one that’ll pay dividends.

Ok, one thing I’m excited about is the potential rivalry with the emerging Cavs. We’re 1-1 in playoff series with those jokers to the south. I want this rivalry, it’s what the game has been missing. I want to hate them like I did the Celtics and then the Bulls. I’ll respect LeBron’s game like I did Jordan’s, but I’ll still despise him. I’ll detest that flopp’n fool Varejao like I’m sure other team’s fans must have done Laimbeer.

So, I’m doing my part to get this divisional rivalry a kick start. I offer up the below pic to be captioned by you Pistons Nation. (I’ve already got dibs on “Ballz don’t lie!” btw)

Oh, and here’s some bonus artillery when dealing with those pesky Cavs fans.