It’s spring and things are really heating up. This is no time to ‘switch to Sanka.
The NBA trade deadline is upon us and the Celtics are in need of a serious transfusion. The Patriots unprecedented, exciting and necessary approach to this offseason has been handled with aplomb. They have put the ‘fast’ in fast times with all their activity over the last 10 days. The Red Sox start up for real just one week from today and the Bruins will return tonight from a COVID induced hiatus. Good news is they’ll be back with some real live fans. Real human beings!
Let’s dig in.
THE CELTICS
Let’s start with today’s NBA trade deadline. Sometimes the man defines the time. Sometimes the time defines the man. Right now, time is defining what will or won’t be of Danny Ainge’s most recent construct of the Celtics. The fledgling, identity-less Celtics need to make a move of significance. It’s time. It’s actually beyond time. It’s triple-overtime. Many a deadline has passed since Ainge made a great move to acquire Isaiah Thomas in 2015. Since then, crickets.
In 2017 when the need to fortify that Isaiah Thomas led team with an inside presence that could rebound and protect the rim, Ainge let it pass by. At that deadline both Boogie Cousins and Nerlens Noel went for a pocket full of lint and spare change. Ainge said nope. Since then in 2018, 2019 and 2020 it’s been a similar passive approach.
All the while, Ainge’s Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference Finals, often against great odds in three of the last four years, including last year. With his two greatest assets, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum hitting an arc in their early All-Star development, Ainge has failed to successfully build around them. He blew it in the fall, misreading the opportunity to bring in proven NBA talent for Gordon Hayward. That missed deal with Indiana for Myles Turner and Dougie McDermott was a layup that clanked off the front of the rim. Just a bad job by Ainge, let’s be honest please.
Since the New Year the Celtics have been the most unenjoyable I can remember them since well before the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo glory days. Their style of play is predictable, boring and ineffective. They lack cohesion and too often look completely disjointed. I haven’t seen four full quarters of inspired basketball in three months at least. Pathetic.
If for no other reason than bucking his uninspired trend of inactivity and his team’s equally uninspired play, Ainge needs to make a move. He needs to show his young stars that he is committed to getting the right mix around them back in place. That he’s committed to moving this train forward, because if he doesn’t, it could get uglier. Both Tatum and Brown are all-stars now and if you know how fleeting an NBA stars’ loyalties can be then do the math. A deal needs to happen today before ugly drama sets in tomorrow. Minimally it’s a protective measure to hopefully sustain what was being built.
Point of Differentiation. Part 1.
Referencing Rondo above brings me to another point. Point Guard. When an offense isn’t clicking and a team is not playing cohesively, the first place I look is to the point guard. The Celtics don’t have one. Kemba Walker is an all-star level scorer. Marcus Smart is a defensive difference maker and Payton Pritchard is a rookie. If you want to get things back on track then get someone who looks to distribute the ball first. Instead of having two wing scorers trying to outdo each other while losing games, try getting a point guard that will get the ball to the right wing scorer in the right situation. That will make an instant impact. Rondo is available and so is Lonzo Ball. Whoever the name, get someone at the point that will find and feed the open man. Help wanted.
Part 2. Kemba Walker meet the microwave.
I like Walker, although his smile in contested or losing situations is starting to give me that good old angry feeling I used to get watching the original Isaiah Thomas who never saw a camera he didn’t like. Here’s the deal, you can’t trade his contract and he can’t run this offense with Tatum, Brown and Smart. He also can’t play on back to back nights, so don’t ask him too. This team lacks depth and it lacks bench scoring, so make Kemba Walker the 2021 Vinnie Johnson. Nickname, “The Microwave.” If you’re not familiar with “The Microwave” get familiar with him on YouTube. He shot the ball lights out and Walker can too. Put him in that role and get a real pass first point guard and you solve three problems. Offensive cohesion, depth and bench scoring.
Lastly, on the Celtics regarding Tristan Thompson and the notion that he could be a cancer in the clubhouse to coin a baseball phrase; I wish he mattered enough for me to care. He doesn’t and I don’t. They have bigger problems.
THE PATRIOTS
If you read last week’s column then you know I’m happy with the Patriots off-season so far: Just admit Patriots fans, it’s fun to win March (radio.com). Since then we’ve seen the re-signing of David Andrews and the reported re-signings of both James White and Lawrence Guy. Excellent! The final piece and questions remain at quarterback and this is well-chronicled. If you have been reading me then you know, I want Jimmy G. if they can pry him loose. I also want them to get a QB in this year’s draft. I prefer the trade-up scenario for one of the top four rookies, but am admittedly warming to the idea of Mac Jones at No. 15. Regardless, with James White reported to be coming back to New England, I’ve got to get something off my chest about Cam Newton.
It is well reported that Newton has trouble throwing the ball down the field, that’s documented. Little however has been made of his atrocious and dare I say hazardous lack of accuracy on screen passes. Frankly, I’m surprised that White came back because in 2020 Newton made him work for it. I read recently that ‘White has lost a step.’ Huh? He didn’t lose a step, he had to use his first step vertically to catch Newton’s overthrown screen passes. If Newton is going to be the starter even for a while in 2021, then this HAS to be corrected. Hitting running backs in the passing game is a staple of the Patriots offense and it was mastered and perfected by Brady for 20 years. There’s an art to it. Not only was Brady accurate, but he would lead his back perfectly to catch his passes in stride, making it easier for pass catchers to gain yards after the catch.
With Newton? Its jump, catch, land and pray. With White coming back that tells me the Pats intend to use him. Please, pretty please with sugar on top, get someone that can safely and successfully get him the ball in the flat, because Newton is a danger to his health.
THE RED SOX
How’s your temperature here? I’ve got to say I’m getting a little excited. Minimally I feel this will be a fun team to watch. Cora is already sewing a Herb Brooks like seed saying things like, “Something is going on around here.” I’ll quote the great Dick Williams, Manager of the 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox, “We’ll win more than we lose.” I think the 2021 Red Sox may surprise some people and I’m looking forward to following them.
THE BRUINS
Hopefully back on the ice tonight and getting over their COVID related issues. Once Rask and their core of young defenders come back, the Bruins should get right back to where they were; competitive but needing to add. Unlike the Celtics, the Bruins actually have a good mix and good chemistry as chronicled here: What's wrong with the Celtics? Watch the Bruins (radio.com).
They are fast and well-constructed but they are far from perfect. They desperately need secondary scoring and need it in reliable fashion. Plug a hole to compete, make a real move to contend. That’s where the Bruins are once they get back to full health. They need a legitimate second line scorer and maybe another offensive player for depth. I’m glad they’re back and even happier some fans will be joining them. Like the 2,100 fans attending however, it’s still incomplete.
