Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Players: Chris Babb (24), Avery Bradley (23), Chris Johnson (24), Kelly Olynyk(23), Phil Pressey (23), Marcus Smart (20), Jared Sullinger (22), James Young(19), Tyler Zeller (24)
The Celtics’ youth movement has me less than enthused: While Bradley is a high-level defender and an improved shooter, if he’s not at his ceiling now, he’s not far from it. Similarly, Sullinger seems pigeonholed as a solid backup big, but lacking the size or athleticism to grow his game anymore. Zeller and Olynyk are both finesse bigs better suited playing alongside a defensive stalwart big (which the C’s don’t have), and I still have reservations about how Smart’s game will translate to the pro level.
ESPN Insider-Ranking The League Based On Under 25 Talent
Yeah, yeah I know-another day, another ESPN preseason ranking that probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. ESPN’s Amin Elhassan put together his second annual ranking of NBA teams based on their under-25 talent. Out of the 30 NBA teams, Boston was ranked 22nd.
Nine of the seventeen players (eighteen once Evan Turner signs) currently on Boston’s roster are twenty-five or younger. As far as “veteran leadership” goes, you’ve got Rondo and Gerald Wallace as far as I’m concerned. Sure, you got Brandon Bass who has quite a bit of playoff experience at this point in his career, but he’s just not the “vocal type”. He’d prefer to lead by example with his toughness. (Bass has missed just one game over the past two seasons) And while Wallace wasn’t always a fan favorite with some of his soapbox type rants last season, he definitely was a needed voice during a season where no one knew which way was up sometimes.
Not sure how much I agree with Elhassan’s opinion on Celtics rookie Marcus Smart. Elhassan says that he has “reservations” on how well Smart’s transition to the NBA game will be. From what I saw in college and this year’s Summer League, I personally think Smart is going to be just fine. He has the strength, athletic ability and skill to compete at the NBA level now. The only thing that could hold him back will be just how much playing time he gets. The Celtics are not known for giving rooks oodles of PT, and Boston already has a bevy of guards on the roster. As camp starts, and Brad Stevens and his staff get a good look at Smart in the preseason, things will start to clear up a bit more as far as who will get the bulk of the minutes.
On Page 2,Wyc says Rondo is “stubborn”
Boston.com-Celtics Owner Wyc Grousbeck On “Stubborn” Rondo: “I Don’t Know How Coachable He Really Is”
Celtics Owner Wyc Grousbeck was a guest on WBZ’s “Sports Final” the other night, and while there he dished on the upcoming season and of course Rajon Rondo. I personally did not see the show, but Boston.com had these quotes from the interview:
“He’s super stubborn,” revealed Grousbeck, adding Rondo is a good, generous kid who loves being in Boston. “I don’t know how coachable he really is.
“I know if you ask [former, long-time head coach] Doc [Rivers], ‘Was he the most coachable guy, or in the top half, 50 percent,’ he’d say, ‘No, he’s in the bottom 50 percent of being coachable.’ It’s hard with him,” Grousbeck continued.
While this is the first time I can remember Celtics brass saying the captain is not “coachable”, everyone and their mama knows he’s on his own page. He has an extremely dry sense of humor, is a perfectionist and not always so amicable with the media. But when he laces up his kicks and gets out on the floor, he’s an amazing player, a floor general and an extremely talented athlete. And that is what matters most.
Some could say Wyc is slowly starting to distance himself, as the C’s prepare to move the point god near this season’s trade deadline. Or he’s simply being honest and not holding anything back-which Grousbeck has been known to do. Speaking of number nine….
Page 2A, Rondo buys a condo in Miami
Oh the naysayers and Rondo-haters are going to have a field day overreacting to this one. I can hear them now: “He’s blowing town to play for the Heat..” blah, blah blah. According to the South Florida Business Journal, Rajon recently purchased a condo at the prestigious Paramount Bay in the Edgewater section of Miami. He shelled out just over $1 mil. for the swanky spot. Can’t blame him for wanting a secondary crib in a warm weather climate, and what better place than the tropical playground that is South Florida.
Hopefully, Rondo stays true to this claim he made last summer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHwWlklYN3k
Finally, Darko to become pro kickboxer
SI.com reports the former Celtic will trade in his bball shoes for a pair of gloves. Hey I wouldn’t doubt the guy can kick some ass in the ring. He’s obviously a giant who will have a huge advantage reachwise and is still relatively young at 29. And as this video shows, he works like a madman to stay in shape:
The rest of the links:
MassLive: Ainge: Celtics Need To Be More Patient With Young Than Smart|KamLoops This Week: Olynyk Keynote Speaker At WolfPack Breakfast|CSNNE: Could Smart Hit 20-Minute Mark As Rookie?|ESPN:Dirk Experimenting With Faster Shot Release|NBA Learning From NFL’s Latest Issues|
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
