Tag: 2016

30 years later, Pt. 3: Rick Carlisle

Considering those of us here in Michigan have our own fine opinion of Rick Carlisle and the job he did in the Motor City, I’ll do my best to be the Celtics homer I am to describe what possibilities this ‘86 Celtic has in the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.

Born and raised in New York state, Carlisle attended Lisbon HS before finding his way to the University of Virginia to play alongside the likes of Ralph Sampson and Olden Polynice. Drafted in the 3rd round at number 70 overall by the Celtics, he played 3 years in Boston, playing in 3 NBA Finals, before spending a season each in New York and New Jersey. After only 5 games in New Jersey playing for Bill Fitch, Carlisle was waived by the Nets before coach asked him on the same call to add him to the coaching staff. Thus, his coaching career began. Later, he be called upon by Celtic teammate Larry Bird to be an assistant in Indiana with the Pacers.

After a long run of Eastern Conference Finals appearances with the Pistons, he was being tossed to the side in favor of the original coaching maverick, Larry Brown. Carlisle soon found his footing and again made a new home office in the vicinity of fellow Celtic and Pacers GM Bird. Friends from their time in Celtic green, Carlisle was an easy choice for Bird after his success with the Pistons. When Carlisle eventually took Dirk Nowitzki and a ragtag team of Mark Cuban’s Mavericks to an NBA Finals win, it was the icing on the cake and the notch needed to make writers and historians realize his true greatness as a coach.

After a year in which Dallas had the top offense in the League before making a franchise and team chemistry alteration in adding former Celtics mercurial point guard Rajon Rondo to the mix, the Mavericks are rife with salary-cap room and the ability to choose their direction for the future with only Dirk, Chandler Parsons, Devin Harris and Gal Mekel on the books for under $30M and Monte Ellis($9M) and Raymond Felton($4.5M) holding player options for next year. With an expected salary cap of over $67M, the Mavericks are in position to chase marquee free-agent, LaMarcus Aldridge, who is from Texas, as well as Kevin Love and others.

If the Mavericks are able to move a couple pieces and sign a higher-tier free agent, I expect them back in the Playoffs in the deep Western Conference. But barring a major free-agent signing or a spectacularly unexpected trade, the Mavericks will not be making the move back to the NBA Finals next year.

(photo credit: nbae getty images)

30 years later, Part 1: Danny Ainge

Gritty, reliable hustler. It showed back in ‘86 and it’s shown in his undeniable need to make the next big move, acquiring players, contracts and draft picks that are both desirable and talented, as well as being able to liquidate assets if necessary. We saw that this year with the acquisition of Brandon Wright in the Rajon Rondo deal, moving him to Phoenix when the opportunity to add one of the most desired player contracts in the league arose in lightning bug Isaiah Thomas.

2015: Boston owns both their 1st round pick and the Clippers pick(Doc Rivers), as well as their own and the 76ers’ 2nd round pick.

2016: Boston owns their pick, the Nets’ 1st round pick(Pierce/Garnett), the Mavericks’ 1st round pick(protected 1-7 until 2021) and the Timberwolves 1st round pick(protected 1-12, or becomes 2nd rd. picks in 2016 & 2017).2nd round picks from Cleveland, Dallas, Miami and Philadelphia are also on the board of possibilities. Boston will lose its’ 2nd round pick to either Memphis or Utah in 2016.

2017: Boston has the right to swap picks with Brooklyn(Pierce/Garnett), but would convey its’ own 2nd round pick(protected 31-45 or extinguished). Boston owns 2nd round picks from Cleveland and the Clippers, as well as their own.
Although draft picks aren’t the asset they once were, think 1992(Shaq, ‘Zo, Laettner, Sprewell) & 2003(LeBron, Carmelo, Bosh, DWade), they can be the “raise the bet” to get a deal done(see Brandon Knight to Phoenix). When players like have to decide where to sign next year, the ability to complete a sign-and-trade, though more difficult than in past NBA off seasons, can be the edge needed to get a top or 2nd tier player to build a franchise around. Ainge has the assets, the financial freedom and the cigars to get the Green back to the Finals.

(Photo CREDIT: FOCUS ON SPORT)

30 years later, the ‘86 Celtics still shape the League

As we near the end of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, I wanted to take a minute and reflect on the greatest team of my lifetime and the likelihood those same Celtics that were dominant in my childhood will have a major impact on the NBA Playoffs in my first year of being “a man.” Although I’m sad that this year’s Celtics team was swept out of the Playoffs, I have a good feeling that they’ll be back next year with a #1 option to go with this collection of B+ players.

Series begins 5/1/15…