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For his career, Thornton has averaged 13.4 points and 26.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 36.1 percent beyond the arc. Acquired by the Nets at last year’s trade deadline to provide the sort of bench scoring that Jason Terry couldn’t, Thornton averaged 12.3 points, 23.8 minutes and what would be a career-best 38 percent beyond the arc over the final 26 games of the regular season.
For a Celtics team desperate for a scoring jolt, Thornton has the potential to make an impact.
Marcus Thornton Gives C’s Scoring Jolt-Chris Forsberg
Desperate for a scoring jolt is right. At times last season (and many of them) the Celtics offense was absolutely awful. Fans, including me, yelled at their televisions as the C’s put up brick after brick. Boston was among the five worst teams as far as offense went last season-they were tied for second-worst FG%, shooting 43%, and third-worst from downtown at 33%. Saying that we need some help on offense is putting it lightly. Jeff Green was supposed to be “the guy” once Pierce was done, but his lack of consistency has made him impossible to count on. Brad Stevens thinks Thornton can be a guy that can bring Boston a nice upgrade on the offensive end.
“Marcus can score,” said Stevens. “I think any time you think about your team and you think about what your needs are, putting the ball in the basket helps a lot and I think Marcus will complement the guys that we have back there, but he can also run off screens both directions, shoot the basketball. He can get it off pick-and-rolls or handoffs and shoot the basketball. And he can create his own shot going at full speed, which is hard to do.
“I’m really familiar with Marcus. Marcus knocked us out of the tournament in 2009, basically single-handedly. He’s had a really solid career but with some really unbelievable moments already.”
I’m honestly not sold on the fact that Ainge will even keep Thornton around. I could certainly see him packaged in one of “Trader Dan’s” deals going forward. However Danny could also showcase him for the early part of the 2014-15 season and then try and make something happen with a playoff team looking for a proven scorer before the trade deadline.
Either way I’m alright with bringing in Thornton. He definitely brings a solid skill set to the table, at least offensively anyway. And with a team chock full of young guards, a veteran presence certainly can not hurt. Rookies James Young & Marcus Smart can definitely learn from the five-year vet who has established himself as a proven NBA scorer. One of the biggest games of Thornton’s career came against the Celtics back in March of 2012. He torched Boston for 36 points in the Kings 120-95 beat down of the C’s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zESypIvLwik
On Page 2: Nine year-old Bill Russell leaves Louisiana with his family
Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know, I learn more. Russell made an appearance on NBC’s “The Last Word” the other night with author Isabel Wilkerson. Bill talked about migrating from Monroe, Louisiana to Oakland, CA at 9 years old. Russell talks about the racism he & his family suffered through in great detail. There just are not many words that I can use which will give any justice to how I feel about Russell. The man embodies the word champion in every aspect. To overcome all of the hatred directed towards him and his family and become one of this country’s greatest leaders in the fight against racism is absolutely inspiring. Sorry if I’m gushing a little, but when I listen to some of the things Russ & his family went through, I am so proud of how he did not let it ruin him. Instead he used it for motivation to do the amazing things he’s done both on and off the basketball court. Thank you Russ.
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The rest of the links:
Observer: Brad Stevens Used To Babysit Cody Zeller|CSNNE: Rockets Not Viable Option For Rondo|WEEI: Humphries Could Definitely See Return To C’s|Herald: Rondo Trade Rumors Rankle Ainge Again
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