With my baseball season over, and my hockey season still two days away, we finally have time for an Austin Celtics post! The new Green & White lined up for the first time last night in preseason action up in New Hampshire, and the results were quite impressive. From the first Rajon Rondo alley oop to Shaq, to the final whistle after the fourth quarter, it was all C's. And while I know we can't get too excited after one little preseason match, I still want to. And while I also know that I shouldn't try and increase the Clipper/Celtic rivalry before the season starts, I still want to. The Clips lost to Portland on Tuesday by the score of 86-115, and I would just like to take a second to throw that in "The White Clipper Darrell's" face. You may be the Godfather of my only child, but your still a Clippers fan, and nothing can stop the ferocity of this rivalry.
But, I digress. The 93-65 drubbing of the Sons of Ben was pretty exciting. Sure, Philly fans will say that they didn't have Elton Brand or Iguodala on the court, but luckily they were too busy enjoying Doc's no hitter to worry about this mesely basketball game. What I did notice was how well benched-out-role-player Shaq "Paddy" O'Neil fit in with the C's. The starting five featured Shaq, Pierce, Rondo, KG, and Ray Ray, and they looked good together. They were backed up by the primary second unit of Glen "Uno Uno" Davis, Delonte West, Nate Dawg, Daniels, and Turkey Trotter Semih Erden. Even Laker fan has to admit that this is a fairly deep team.
So deep, in fact, that many in the Green Army would argue Erden had the best night of the main 10 last night. Turkey Dinner dropped 13 on Philly, picking up 5 boards, and 2 blocks. I know he's going to be a VERY minor guy, and I don't want to get pumped up on preseason play (a la Sergei Shirokov with the 'Nucks last year), but I am at the very least optomistic.
As for the usual starters, KG bricked all four of his field goal attempts, but looked better than ESPN will have you believe. Rondo returned from his minor stint with Team USA and picked up 7 helpers like a good PG should. And finally, Ray Ray drilled 14 going six of nine from the field, with two "trees."
Let me just take the time to point out that Shaq went 4 for 5 from the field, and that included the oopsie doopsie and a fallaway jumper right out of the gate. Most underrated pickup of the offseason? Maybe so. A down note was my Irish boy Luke Harangody, who bricked 4 of his 5 shots. While he did pull down three boards, all while looking good in a C's kit, he needs to grow A LOT before the season starts. I hope he does. I also hope Delonte West can improve. He didn't look great out there last night, and I want him to succeed with the C's even more so this time around. Remember the first time we realized D-West was Black? That was crazy! That was the last fun Celtic team that I really liked. I only hope this incarnation will be that enjoyable.
The LSF Underrated Star of the Match Award goes to Stephane Lasme, who dropped a 12 spot in 7 minutes of floor time. He was Mr. Hustle in the fourth quarter, and may be the kind of guy this team needs in the mix. The UMass grad, former Golden State draft pick, and former Los Angeles D-Fender deserves to get more time than the Warriors bothered to give him in his time up in Oakland (4 seconds, for those keeping score at home). Keep up the good work, and make this team, homeboy.
Just think, all this fun, and we haven't even seen Jermaine O'Neil or the currently injured Kendrick Perkins.
The preseason dribble drive was fun to watch, and I think I may be more excited about this upcoming basketball season than any in recent memory (especially in the post-Antoine Walker era). I'm not exactly sure why, but that's how it is. Tonight, the C's continue to do battle in the preseason realm as they travel to face the New Jersey Nets. Did they get LeBron? I missed that whole "The Decision" thing. No I didn't. Why am I trying to pretend I'm cool?
Keep your eyes on the prize Green Army. While the "season" may kick off against the Miami Super-Heat on October 26, we dedicated Celtic faithful know that the "real" season starts February 26th at the Staples Center at 7:30 Pacific Time.
Bring it, Clip-easy.
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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