Three Reasons Why the Celtics Shouldn’t Trade for Kyrie Irving
Rumors never cease in Boston. The latest rumor from ESPN this week has the Celtics very interested in Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving. Let’s take a look at three factors why the Celtics shouldn;t make this deal. Reson number one is Isaiah is currently the best best point guard in the NBA East. homas averages approximately 25-30 points per game. Irving avearages between 18-25 points per game. Secondly Thomas is a better passer than Irving. This should mix well with the addition of small forward Gordon Hayward. The Celtics haven’t had a better passer since Rajon Rondo, or going further back which would of been Larry Bird. Thirdly Thomas is a better three point shooter than Irving Thomas has an average of 350 or some stretches at 400. Irving is close behind but Thomas is slightly better. Another point to consider is Thomas has been in the league longer than Irving. Thomas was originally drafted by the Kings. He was then dealt to the Suns . GM Danny Ainge traded for Thomas three and a half years ago. Irving is twenty five but is not as polished or experienced as Thomas. Thomas is well groomed in playoff competition as is Irving playing with LeBron for the past several years. Boston needs to hang on to Isaiah . He is the heart and soul of the Celtics. Since coming over three and half years ago the Celtics are very close for winning the Eastern conference championship. During the playoffs Thomas lost his sister and got his tooth knocked out of his jaw all in one night. Plus he went on to participate in a playoff game and it turned out to beone of the best games of his career. Making a trade for Kyrie Irving would cost the Celtics dearly. Such a trade would cost the Celtics Thomas, Jae Crwder and either Jaylen Brown or Jason Tatum. Not to mention the 2018 Laker pick they acquired just before the draft. Make no mistake about it Kyrie Irving is probably one of the top ten players in basketball. But if the Celtics want to cobtinue to advance in the playoffs they should not trade Isaiah Thomas.
Does The Hayward Signing Make The Celtics Automatic Champs in the Eastern Conference in18?
The Boston Celtics have officially signed Jazz free agent Gordon Hayward to a four year 128 million dollar deal that was announced on Tuesday. After a seven year career inUtah Hayward will now wear Celtic green for atleast four years. But does this signing mean that the Celtics are a shoein to win the Eastern conference next year? Celtic green teamers are all cheering but the wise basketball fan thinks differently. The answer is absoloutey not. The NBA rumor mill has LeBron James leaving Cleveland next year. But this is just what it is just a rumor. To begin with LeBron has an excellent working relationship with the Cavs GM. Point number two is the talk has James going to LA. The Lakers are in a rebuilding stage which will take atleast three or four years to rebuild. And the Clippers are a team that is getting older with nothing to show for it. The sensible thing is to stay in Cleveland where he has won. If LeBron does leave after next year Cleveland is still a team to take seriously. If James doesn’t beat you single handidly then Kyrie Irving will. Irving don’t forget gave the Celtics a pretty good beating after getting hurt in game six of the playoffs. No matter what happens the Cavs are well stocked with players such as Tristan Thompson, Andrew Bogut, Deron Williams and Iman Shumpert. The Cavs are a well balanced talented team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Make no mistake abot it Gordon Hayward will give the Celtics much more depth and flexiblity for head coach Brad Stevens to work with. Hayard has 47 % field goal shooting percentage and a 39.8 3 point shooting percentage. This will definitely help the weak shooting Celtics who basically counted on Isaiah Thomas to much during the season and playoffs. No matter what happens between now til the start of training camp it will take alot more than Gordon Hayward to get by the Cav’s and Golden State. But the addition of Hayward to go along with Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas, and any other future moves will only help to get to championship number 18.
Why The Celtics Are Better Off Without Paul George
With the 2017 NBA free agency period officially underway one NBA rumor has already been put to bed. Friday evening the Pacers dealt long time fvorite Paul George to Oklahoma for two players and draft picks. If you ask me who got the better of the deal Iwould have to say Indiana. Indiana now in a rebuilding stage has officially moved on fom Paul George. The Thunder on the other hand is getting one of the best players in the league. However their is one catch the Thunder have him for only one year. Currently George is recieving 19.3 million and if he chooses to agree to an extension it’s going to require some big bucks in order to make him happy. This is where the deal is beneficial for the Celtics point number one he’s out of the Eastern conference and point number two the Celtics hang on to their abundance of draft picks. Also the Celtics didn’t have to give up one of their younger players shooting guadcJaylen Brown and small forward Jason Tatum. One of the consistent that Celtic fans have been hearing for atleast ayear almost is Utah forwardGordon Hayward. Hayward has spent his entire career in Utah but has rwealized it’s time to move on from the Jazz and hook on with a winning organization such as Boston. Hayward has a long relatshionship with Celtic head coach Brad Stevens. Stevens was his coach at Butler. If you do the math tallying up Paul Georges 19million,Gordon Haywards 16 million and Celtic point guard Isaiah Thomas’s new contract they couldn’t signall three. Thomas is due for a new contractthis year. He’s seeking a four year max contract. But with hip issues and his defense some people think he may not get it. Thomas is one of the best guards in the Eastern Conference in2016/17. Two players that would look good in Celtic green would be Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari and Clipper guard JJ Redick . Redick is one of the best shooters in the NBA with a 445 field goal average and 42% 3 point shooting avearage and earning just 8 million in LA. Gallinari on the other hand is just 29 years old and plays shooting guard,small forward and poer forward. Currently he’s earning 14 million and would fit in nicely in Brad Steven’s rotating system. No matter what direction the Cetics go in their only getting better and closer to championship number 18. .
The Chatters Top Twenty NBA Greats of All Time
With the Golden State Warriors the 2017 NBA champion and the NBA draft a week away here is a capsule of the top twenty NBA greats of all time Number one Michael Jordan. Simply the games best. He resurrected a floundering franchise and turned them into one of the greatest sports teams of all time. Six world titles with only one teammate to work with. That was Scottie Pippen. No dream team here. Just devotion and hustle. Didn’t make half the money Lebron makes. Number Two Majic Johnson. Another loyal Laker. His career 10,000 assist makes him the alltime gretest passer along with rival Larry Bird. If he didn’t contract the HIV virus he would of played longer. Number Three Larry Bird. The kid from French Lick Indiana is one of the all time greatest shooters. Led the Celtics to three world titles in the eighties not including afourth trip that was a loss to the Lakers. Also one of the great assist leaders of all time. His 5,000 career assist is half of Majics total. Number Four Bill Russell. Drafted out of the University of San Fransisco he one the gratest centers ever. Only Abdul Jabbar comes close to him. He was the main force of the Celtics dominance in the sixties. Number Five LeBron James. Probably the greatest two way player to play the game. People don’t realize he plays all five positions. Does it all every night 27 points per game 7.3 reboundsper game and 8 assist per game. Three world tiles under his belt at 32 years old. Atleast one more on the way. Number Six Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Nest to Russell the second best center in NBA history. A great 14 year career with the Bucks and Lakers.Averaged 28 points per game andeight rebounds. One of the best hook shots ever. Number Seven Kobe Bryant. One of the gratest Laker players ever Probaly the best shooter in NBA history. A great two way player. The main reason the Lakers beat the Celtics in 09. Number eight Bob Cousy The great Holy Cross product played in 924 games in his 14 year career. Teamed up with Bill Russell to make the Celtics a powerhouse in the sixties. A great free throw shooter80% and averaged 20 points per game not to mention a great passer. Number nine Jerry West The 13 year Laker was nicknamed Mr Clutch. Played in932 career games all with the Lakers.Averaged 22 points per game excellent passer7 assist per game and good rebounder averaging 5 per game. Number Ten Oscar Robertson. Nicknamed the big O He played 10 seasons with the Bucks averaging 25 points per game. A great passer 10 assist per game. Clutch shooter. Also one of the best defensive players ever. Eleven Elgin Baylor A brilliant 13 year career all with the Lakers. Rookie of the Year in1958.An eleven time all star. Finished up with 23,000 career points and over 3000 assist. decent rebounder 7.5 per game. Number twelve John Havlicek The former Celtic nicknamed Hondo for his nightly hustled. Drafted out of Ohio State he’ll go down as one of the greatest Celtic shooters ever. A career 1270 games 18 points per game. Great free throw shooter 80%. Also solid defensively. Number thirteen Dave DeBuusschere. The former Knick great played 14 seasons in the NBA. One of the reasons the Knicks were one of the best teams in the seventies. Finished up with 14,000 total points. A great rebounder and defender. Number fourteen George Gervin One of the greatest Spurs ever. Played thirteen season twelve with San Antonio and one with Chicago. Played in over 10,000 career games averaging 22 points per game. Great free throw shooter at 84% Number fifteen Dave Bing. Bing was one of the toughest players to play the game in the seventies. Had a great 12 year career. Nine with Detroint and a year with Boston and Washington. Played in 901 career games averaging 18 points per game and an excellent free throw shooter 77% Number Sixteen Tim Duncan Another great Spur. A draft loterry pick by San Antonincan was probably one of the great modern day players Played in 1392 career games.Averaged 25 points per game 10 rebounds and had an 69% free throw percentage. He was the complete player. Number seventeen Dominque Wilkins Who can forget about Nique.Will go down as one of the greatest Hawks of all time Played in 1079 games. averaging 21 points pergame great free throw shooter 80% and snagged 6 boards a game. Number eighteen Paul Pierce Pierce will go down as one of the Celtic greats. The main reason the Celts won the championship in 08. Probably will retire as a Celtic after being dealt to the Nets for a buch of draft picks. Also spent time with the Clippers and Washington. Number nineteen Pete Maravich. Nicknamed PistolPete he will be remembered from his deep shooting success. Would of been one of the best three point shooters if he played in this era. Played his whole career in Atlanta with one season in Boston. Number twenty Scottie Pippen. Don’t forget about this guy. Teamed up with Michael Jordan to make the Bulls one of the greatest teams ever. Well their you have my selections. Maybe after this years draft their will be another one added to the list.
What Markelle Fultz Brings To The Table
With the NBA draft a few days away the Boston Celtics have the number one pick. With GM Danny Ainge at the helm their’s no telling what can happen. The common name everyone expects is Wasington Husky sharpshooter Markelle Fultz. Personally I like Kansas small forward Josh Jackson. No matter how you look at either one will help and make your team better.Fultz has a field goal percentage of 64% and a three point percentage of 41%. This is an area that the Celtics desperately need help in,especially in the playoffs. The Celtics current group of Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas is as good as it gets. Thomas is the bestpoint guard in the East. Rozier isin’t bad either. Marcus Smart however is one of the best shut down guards in the league but terrible offensively. So if the Celtics take Fultz he would be a nice shot in the arm. Thomas is a liability on defense and Fultz has a good reputation. This leads us to plan B.Kansas Jayhwk small forward Josh Jackson. Jackson has the perfect build for a wingman. He stands6’8” 207 lbs. Tough mentally and a great defensive reputation. Much better defensively than Fultz. With that being said the better choice for the Celtics is Jackson. Jackson led the Jayhawks to a 31-5 season record only to lose the Ducks of Oregon. Jackson shoots 37% from 3 point land and has a field goal percentage of 54% He also averages 7.5 rebounds per game. If the Celtics don’t take Fultz then Jackson is the perfect alternative. The Celtics never replaced hall of famer Paul Pierce since he left. Jackson has all the makings to be an elite NBA player.