Yes.
A sports blog for the American working man, because that's who I am, and that's who I care about.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
100th SNL Digital Short
Last week Andy Samberg and the Lonely Island Crew unleashed their 100th Digital Short on Saturday Night Live. Here it is in case you missed it.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Keefe & B.Robb Talk Celtics
Game 1 went to the Celtics 92-91. The 76ers and C's get back on the court tonight in Game 2. Yesterday Rich Keefe and Brian Robb (CelticsHub.com) discussed the series on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Click below to listen.
Labels:
76ers,
Brian Robb,
Celtics,
Celticshub.com,
NBA,
NBA playoffs,
Rich Keefe
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Injury Bonanza of 2012 and How The Celtics Stack Up
NBA players are dropping like flies in the playoffs. Perhaps a victim of the 66-game lockout shorten season or in some cases because of self mutilation (see: Amar'e Stoudemire punching glass), big names and small names alike are missing the most important games of the year.
2011 MVP Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL, Knicks rookie guard Iman Shumpert the same. Baron Davis just went down with a nasty knee injury himself. Dwight Howard will not play in the playoffs, Al Horford just returned after sitting out nearly the entire season, his backup Zaza Pachulia is still out. The flash in the pan known as Jeremy Lin has been sidelined for the first 4 games of the Knicks-Heat series. Memphis stud Zach Randolph worked his way back into the lineup the final couple weeks of the regular season. The T-Wolves' chances of making the post season went out the window when rookie PG Ricky Rubio blew his ACL, the Clippers lost their leader Chauncey Billups, and many more. And then you have the "old" Celtics.
The C's are up 3-1 in their 1st round series with the Hawks. Boston managed to win the Atlantic Division title despite numerous injuries throughout the season, which began with the news that Jeff Green would miss the year and need heart surgery. Chris Wilcox was forced to the sidelines in an eerily similar fashion. And Jermaine O'Neal... whatever. The veteran group fought through the multiple back-to-backs and the ridiculously thrown together season (little to no practice time and crazy travel schedule) to win the division (for the 5th straight year) and enter the playoffs as the #4 seed. They still did not have home court advantage.
Where do the Green stand health wise?
Ray Allen missed the last 9 games of the year with an ankle injury and Games 1 and 2 against the Hawks. Allen surprised himself coming back for Game 3, saying that he had told KG he would probably miss the entire series. It's hopeful that he will be on the court the rest of the way, but it's no sure thing. Allen will undergo surgery when the C's are done.
Paul Pierce, who was extremely durable this season, hurt his knee in shootaround prior to Game 4, and Doc left the morning get-together thinking the Captain would miss the game. He played, 24 points in 17 minutes, and said on his twitter that he was glad he only played limited minutes to he could rest his knee.
Mickael Pietrus played in 42 of the 66 games this year. He missed time with a concussion and left Game 4 in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury.
Avery Bradley re-injured his left shoulder in Game 3. He was a game-time decision in Game 4 (he played), but will be a concern through the rest of the playoffs. He apparently popped out his shoulder 2-3 times during the season, but Doc Rivers said it was like a "LEGO" and would just pop back in, but in Game 3 it did not do that. Gross.
Greg Stiemsma (feet) sat out of nearly every single practice the Celtics had this season. He should be able to go the rest of the playoffs for as much time as the team needs him, but it should be pointed out that he's been playing banged up all year.
Is it possible that Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are the healthiest players on the team?
The lasting image of the 2011 playoffs for the Celtics was Rajon Rondo playing against the Heat with one arm. After Dwyane Wade tackled him to the floor, Rondo got up and tried like hell to play through the pain. The 2009 playoffs were essentially a lost cause because of the knee injury that kept Kevin Garnett from suiting up with the team. Now in 2012, Rondo and KG are the healthiest, and without question the two pieces most important to knocking of the Heat in a potential Eastern Conference Finals match-up.
Few would have predicted the type of season KG had. At 35 years old and with well over 1,200 career games played, Garnett averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists per game (playing in 60/66, sitting out a couple for personal reasons and for rest). I believe he will be All-Defensive 2nd Team and All-NBA 3rd Team, at center, where he really flourished in the 2nd half of the season.
Health has already derailed the top seeded Bulls and the Orlando Magic. If the Celtics are going to make a deep run they are going to continue to walk the injury tight rope. KG and Rondo will have to defy the odds and Pierce (knee), Allen (ankle), Bradley (shoulder), Pietrus (hamstring, head), and Stiemsma (feet) will have to be "healthy enough."
Believe it or not I said Heat-Celtics in the East Finals in my pre-season predictions. There is no reason to change that now.
-Keefe
2011 MVP Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL, Knicks rookie guard Iman Shumpert the same. Baron Davis just went down with a nasty knee injury himself. Dwight Howard will not play in the playoffs, Al Horford just returned after sitting out nearly the entire season, his backup Zaza Pachulia is still out. The flash in the pan known as Jeremy Lin has been sidelined for the first 4 games of the Knicks-Heat series. Memphis stud Zach Randolph worked his way back into the lineup the final couple weeks of the regular season. The T-Wolves' chances of making the post season went out the window when rookie PG Ricky Rubio blew his ACL, the Clippers lost their leader Chauncey Billups, and many more. And then you have the "old" Celtics.
The C's are up 3-1 in their 1st round series with the Hawks. Boston managed to win the Atlantic Division title despite numerous injuries throughout the season, which began with the news that Jeff Green would miss the year and need heart surgery. Chris Wilcox was forced to the sidelines in an eerily similar fashion. And Jermaine O'Neal... whatever. The veteran group fought through the multiple back-to-backs and the ridiculously thrown together season (little to no practice time and crazy travel schedule) to win the division (for the 5th straight year) and enter the playoffs as the #4 seed. They still did not have home court advantage.
Where do the Green stand health wise?
Ray Allen missed the last 9 games of the year with an ankle injury and Games 1 and 2 against the Hawks. Allen surprised himself coming back for Game 3, saying that he had told KG he would probably miss the entire series. It's hopeful that he will be on the court the rest of the way, but it's no sure thing. Allen will undergo surgery when the C's are done.
Paul Pierce, who was extremely durable this season, hurt his knee in shootaround prior to Game 4, and Doc left the morning get-together thinking the Captain would miss the game. He played, 24 points in 17 minutes, and said on his twitter that he was glad he only played limited minutes to he could rest his knee.
Mickael Pietrus played in 42 of the 66 games this year. He missed time with a concussion and left Game 4 in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury.
Avery Bradley re-injured his left shoulder in Game 3. He was a game-time decision in Game 4 (he played), but will be a concern through the rest of the playoffs. He apparently popped out his shoulder 2-3 times during the season, but Doc Rivers said it was like a "LEGO" and would just pop back in, but in Game 3 it did not do that. Gross.
Greg Stiemsma (feet) sat out of nearly every single practice the Celtics had this season. He should be able to go the rest of the playoffs for as much time as the team needs him, but it should be pointed out that he's been playing banged up all year.
Is it possible that Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are the healthiest players on the team?
The lasting image of the 2011 playoffs for the Celtics was Rajon Rondo playing against the Heat with one arm. After Dwyane Wade tackled him to the floor, Rondo got up and tried like hell to play through the pain. The 2009 playoffs were essentially a lost cause because of the knee injury that kept Kevin Garnett from suiting up with the team. Now in 2012, Rondo and KG are the healthiest, and without question the two pieces most important to knocking of the Heat in a potential Eastern Conference Finals match-up.
Few would have predicted the type of season KG had. At 35 years old and with well over 1,200 career games played, Garnett averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists per game (playing in 60/66, sitting out a couple for personal reasons and for rest). I believe he will be All-Defensive 2nd Team and All-NBA 3rd Team, at center, where he really flourished in the 2nd half of the season.
Health has already derailed the top seeded Bulls and the Orlando Magic. If the Celtics are going to make a deep run they are going to continue to walk the injury tight rope. KG and Rondo will have to defy the odds and Pierce (knee), Allen (ankle), Bradley (shoulder), Pietrus (hamstring, head), and Stiemsma (feet) will have to be "healthy enough."
Believe it or not I said Heat-Celtics in the East Finals in my pre-season predictions. There is no reason to change that now.
-Keefe
Labels:
Boston Celtics,
Derrick Rose,
Keefe,
Kevin Garnett,
Miam Heat,
NBA,
NBA Playoff,
Paul Pierce,
Rajon Rondo,
Ray Allen
Thursday, May 3, 2012
NBA Awards 2011-2012 Season
I’ve been sitting on this for a little while and realized I better get this out before they give away all the awards. Gregg Popovich already won Coach of the Year and Tyson Chandler will be named Defensive Player of the Year, two that I was going to pick anyway. You don’t have to believe me, that’s fine. But here are the rest of my picks.
MVP
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
6th Man of the Year
James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
Coach of the Year
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Rookie of the Year
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
All-Rookie 1st Team
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
MarShon Brooks, New Jersey Nets
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
All-Rookie 2nd Team
Brandon Knight, Detroit Pistons
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves
Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats
Honorable Mention:
Chandler Parsons, Houston Rockets
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
All-Defensive 1st Team
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
All-Defensive 2nd Team
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
All-NBA 1st Team
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
All-NBA 2nd Team
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
All-NBA 3rd Team
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
-Keefe
MVP
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
6th Man of the Year
James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
Coach of the Year
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Rookie of the Year
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
All-Rookie 1st Team
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
MarShon Brooks, New Jersey Nets
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
All-Rookie 2nd Team
Brandon Knight, Detroit Pistons
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves
Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats
Honorable Mention:
Chandler Parsons, Houston Rockets
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
All-Defensive 1st Team
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
All-Defensive 2nd Team
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
All-NBA 1st Team
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
All-NBA 2nd Team
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
All-NBA 3rd Team
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
-Keefe
Labels:
All-NBA,
Keefe,
Kevin Durant,
Lebron James,
Miami Heat,
MVP,
NBA,
NBA awards,
Oklahoma City Thunder,
Rookie of the Year
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