Franchise Fours

Red Sox

Ted Williams, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez

Patriots

Tom Brady, Ty Law, John Hannah, Rob Gronkowski

Celtics

Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Paul Pierce

Bruins

Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, Zdeno Chara

WWF/WWE

Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker

WCW

Sting, Ric Flair, Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash

ECW

The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, Rob Van Dam

Marvel Heroes

Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Captain America

Marvel Villains 

Magneto, Green Goblin, Red Skull, Apocalypse 

DC Heroes

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash

DC Viilains

The Joker, Lex Luthor, Darkseid, Two-Face

Rondo To The Mavericks

This could be the deal according to reports. (Plus a 1st rounder going back to Boston.)

UPDATE:

Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell to the Mavericks for Brandan Wright, Jameer Nelson, Jae Crowder, 2015 1st round pick and a future 2nd round pick.

Podcast: Keefe & B. Robb Talk NBA Draft

Upcoming Showtimes

I (Rich Keefe) will be hosting and co-hosting some shows coming up on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Saturday 7-8am: Celtics @ 7

Saturday 8-9am: The Rich Keefe Project

Sunday 9am-1pm: Keefe & Mike Flynn

Monday 6-10am: Adam Jones & Keefe (in for Toucher & Rich)

Also on Monday, I will have my full NBA Mock Draft right here on The Brief. 

Players Celtics Interviewed at Combine

Kyle Anderson, UCLA
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State
Dante Exum, Australia
Aaron Gordon, Arizona
P.J. Hairston, D-League/UNC
Gary Harris, Michigan State
Rodney Hood, Duke
Zach LaVine, UCLA
Doug McDermott, Creighton
Shabazz Napier, UConn
Julius Randle, Kentucky
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Nik Stauskas, Michigan
Noah Vonleh, Indiana
T.J. Warren, N.C. State

Solid list. You can tell this is a team with a potential high lottery pick as well as #17. 

Celtics Draft Positioning

Celtics lost and won a "coin toss" today. The C's were tied with the Jazz for the 4th worst record in the NBA.  They will split odds (as noted in a previous post) but in the off chance neither team gets into the Top 3 they need to determine who is ahead of who to fill it out, and Utah won the toss.

Celtics get the 5th position in the lottery and 1 less combination than the Jazz. 

But on the positive side, Celtics own the Nets pick this year and they were tied with the Wizards. This time they got it, so the Celtics will pick 17th.

A lottery pick (Top 8 guaranteed) and #17.  Not horrible.

UPDATE: The Celtics current lottery odds are now...

1st = 10.3% 2nd = 11.1% 3rd = 12% 4th = 0% 5th = 24.6% 6th = 34.5% 7th = 7% 8th = 0.4%

Celtics Lottery Odds

The Celtics (25-57) finished the season TIED with the Utah Jazz for the 4TH WORST RECORD in the NBA.  Because of the tie the C's & Jazz will split ping pong balls/ draft combinations.

Here are their chances for each pick.

1st = 10.35%
2nd = 11.15%
3rd = 12%
4th = 4.95%
5th = 30.6%
6th = 26%
7th = 4.8%
8th = 0.2%

---------------------------------------------

33.5% Top 3

69.05% Top 5

Guaranteed Top 8

NBA DRAFT LOTTERY = MAY 20th

Also the BROOKLYN NETS pick (the C's 2nd 1st Round pick this year) will be 17th OR 18th based on a coin flip.  

Celtics vs. Wizards Tonight

Check out the Celtics at the Wizards tonight on 100.7 WZLX.  Pre game at 6:30pm, tip off at 7:00pm. 

Sean Grande and Rich Keefe on the call.  

Not sure if it's a good sign or a scary one, but the C's are staying just blocks away from the Exorcist stairs.  

Mark Your Calendar

I will be hosting The Adam Jones Show the next two nights and will be doing color commentary for the Celtics again next week.  

Thursday (3-27): Hosting 6-11pm on 98.5 (Pre and post Bruins vs. Blackhawks)

Friday (3-28): Hosting 6-11pm on 98.5 (Pre, halftime, and post Celtics vs. Raptors)

Monday (3-31): Color Commentary for Celtics vs. Bulls, 7:30pm on 98.5

Wednesday (4-2): Color Commentary for Celtics vs. Wizards, 6:30pm on 100.7 WZLX

Keefe Hosting Friday and Monday Night

Rich Keefe will be hosting Friday and Monday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub. 

He will be on pre, halftime, and post Celtics-Magic on both nights. 

What Would The Celtics NBA Jam Team Be This Year?

Who do you take?  Let's say you get 3 dudes.  Rajon Rondo is an automatic.  After that?  You can make a case for a handful of guys: Avery Bradley, Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace (I guess), Kris Humphries (right?), Kelly Olynyk (1st rounder...), Jared Sullinger?  Here's the breakdown.

Well we can eliminate: Courtney Lee, Brandon Bass, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogan, Phil Pressey, Jordan Crawford  (although he might be solid...)

Bradley- great defense, "steals" rating would be a solid 8 or 9.  He can hit that corner 3.  You'd be real small with him and Rondo.

Green- should be the best scorer, best athlete, makes sense.  I still don't like him.

Wallace- Would have been in the game for a few years during his career, not anymore.

Humphries- Rebounding an 8 or 9, would make for a solid duo with Rondo.

Olynyk- if the game gives him an above average 3pt shot, then he could be dangerous.  Plus you're going to need some rookies in the game.

Sullinger- As Chris Webber would say, Sullinger has that "old man game."  Do we want that here?  He had a solid rookie year before getting hurt.  He can rebound and his "2pt shot" would be strong.


Final Verdict:  Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger

Podcast: C's Trade Deadline Thoughts

Jordan Crawford Better Than Michael Jordan?

He thinks so.

Everyone talks about Crawford's dunk on LeBron James at a camp (posted below) a few years ago, but forget LeBron, is he better than the greatest of all time?  He told Michael Lee of The Washington Post this...

"I don't tell nobody, but I feel like I can be better than Michael Jordan," Crawford said, without the slightest hint of sarcasm. "When I'm done playing, I don't want people to say, Michael Jordan is the best player. I want that to be me. That's how I am. That's how I was built."

Um, what? You realize people will look at you sideways and think you're crazy for saying that, right?

"Yeah, I know that, I definitely know that. But I'm not settling for anything less," Crawford said. "I feel like I'm better than him, anyway. My mom is going to say I'm better than him."

Gotta love the confidence, right?

Whacky Celtics Trades That Fit Under The Cap

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3pm est.  The Celtics have had nearly all of their players rumored in potential deals.  KG, Rondo, Pierce, Bass, Green, Lee, Terry, even Fab freakin Melo.  Here are some gems that could work...

Celtics receive ERIC BLEDSOE & DEANDRE JORDAN
Clippers receive KEVIN GARNETT

Celtics receive HARRISON BARNES, RICHARD JEFFERSON, BRANDON RUSH
Warriors receive PAUL PIERCE

Celtics receive DEMARCUS COUSINS, TYREKE EVANS
Kings receive RAJON RONDO


C's would be in massive rebuild mode.  But a future core of solid young players that could develop or be dealt in bigger trades in the offseason and or at the draft.

LINEUP:
Eric Bledsoe
Avery Bradley
Harrison Barnes
Demarcus Cousins
DeAndre Jordan

BENCH:
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger
Brandon Bass
Jason Terry
Courtney Lee
Richard Jefferson
Brandon Rush
Fab Melo

*I would also look to trade Jason Terry and Brandon Bass if possible.  If not, a vet like Terry could help Bledsoe/Barnes.

New look!

Podcast: Celtics Trade Talk

I talked Celtics and NBA Trade rumors with Brian Robb on Monday night.  And here it is.

Click Here to go to CelticsHub.com

Keefe Talks NBA Draft on Felger & Mazz

Rich Keefe was the update guy for Felger & Mazz on NBA Draft day and joined the conversation talking Celtics, Austin Rivers, and prospects.  Yes I know the draft is over by the time you listen to this, but enjoy it anyway.

Click here to listen.

2012-13 Boston Celtics

The Heat and Thunder play Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight.  The series has been entertaining and compelling, but it's never too early to talk about the future of the Boston Celtics.  This off season will be the most important for the C's since the summer of 2007.  Allow me to introduce my blueprint aka wish list for the upcoming season.

STARTERS:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kris Humphries (unrestricted free agent)
C: Kevin Garnett (unrestricted free agent)

BENCH:

O.J. Mayo (restricted free agent)
Mickael Pietrus (unrestricted free agent)
Jeff Green (unrestricted free agent)
Brandon Bass (unrestricted free agent)
Chris Wilcox (unrestricted free agent)
JaJuan Johnson
E'Twaun Moore
Royce White (draft with pick #21)
Greg Stiemsma (own restricted free agent)
Open Roster Spot to sign buyout player midseason

I also want to see the Celtics traded pick #22 for a future first round pick, they would be better of with just 1 rookie with this club.

Mayo is the most unlikely addition followed by Humphries, the rest are all very realistic, but not as important (not counting KG obviously).  They need rebounding and bench scoring, Humphries and Mayo solve those problems and then some.

NBA Draft is coming up a week from Thursday.  Looking forward to the whole thing.  I'll try to get a full draft podcast up before it happens.  Thanks for stopping by the Brief.

-Keefe

Keefe Talks Celtics

Rich Keefe joined Adam Kaufman from 98.5 The Sports Hub and CBSBostonSports.com to talk all things Celtics.

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.

5 Questions With DeAndre Liggins

Testing your Basketball IQ here with this one. I talked to Orlando rookie DeAndre Liggins prior to the Celtics 102-98 win over the Magic last night at the TD Garden. Here is what the 1st year man, and 2nd round pick, out of Kentucky had to say.

1. How has the whole Dwight Howard-Stan Van Gundy situation affected you guys, especially down the stretch of the season?

Liggins: What you talkin about?

1b. You know, that Dwight could pick Stan's fate, and the front office?

Liggins: Pick what? I don't know nothing about that.

1c. You think those two have a good relationship?

Liggins: Yeah they do. From my perspective I would say they do. That other stuff you are talking about I don't know what you are talking about, like Dwight picking. Especially me being a rookie, I definitely don't know.

2. How has Glen Davis been like as a teammate this year?

Liggins: He'd been great man. He's our emotional leader. He's been playing well, he just needs to continue to play well for us.

3. How did Coach Calipari help you get ready for the NBA?

Liggins: Yeah he... I mean he defined my game. That't what got me here, and I'm going to continue to do that.

4. Any regrets at all skipping your senior season after watching them [Kentucky] win it all?

Liggins: No. I mean I knew we had a chance if I came back to win it all. I knew they were going to win it all, so I just made my decision. I don't regret it or anything like that.

5. How would you assess your rookie year?

Liggins: I mean I'm happy even though I ain't playing, but I'm learning. Summer league is coming up so I'm excited about that. Just continue to work hard, that's all I can do.

-Keefe