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.
I trust that you’re feeling much better these days?
“I feel awesome. I actually feel a lot better than I did prior to the surgery. It was a blessing, and I’m doing better now.”
This is a nice interview with Jeff, who hasn’t given a tremendous amount of interviews. Go read the whole thing because he touches on a lot. And he ends it like this.
Is there anything else that you’d like to say to your fans?
“To all the Boston fans that read this…banner 18 is on the way.”
The man knows his audience, that’s for sure.
Reading the whole interview, you get a sense for why he really like Boston. He’s a city kid and the pace of Boston really appeals to him. He’s in a great situation playing with Hall of Famers and he’s got a chance at a ring.
Jeff Green is a wild card for this team. No one can really predict what he’ll be. He’s had a few years in the NBA where he’s been ok… but mostly just ok. John Hollinger, in highly praising the Celtics offseason (insider link) summed up a pretty common feeling about Green’s deal.
The one negative was the Green deal, which is believed to be four years, $32 million — far too much for a player who has proven fairly replaceable in his first four seasons and missed the fifth with a heart problem. Nonetheless, Boston, against all odds, seems primed for yet one more run.
Valid points from Hollinger there. When you look at his history, replaceable is one way to describe him. However, there is one big thing hanging out there that is immeasurable: his changed perspective on life and basketball.
Will this surgery, and the new perspective it gave him, actually lead to a more aggressive, better Jeff Green than we knew in the past? His agent said Green will have “more fire in his belly”… which would be nice. If Green truly does, and if Green live up to his contract, then the Celtics will be a force.
And that’s the other side of the issue. Players who get big contracts in Boston can feel a little more pressure to live up to them. If Green falls into that trap and presses, plays poorly, and loses confidence… then the Celtics will still be good, but they’ll have a big, glaring hole in the bench.
Personally, I’m confident in Green. I’m not sure if he’ll get to an All Star level… but I think he’ll be good. And I’d be happy if his level of production leads someone in a year or two to say “well, maybe he’s a little overpaid, but it’s not too bad.”
Oh, and finally… no, I don’t know why he’s officially not signed yet. But when you look at the way everyone in this situation is carrying himself, I don’t see any reason why whatever the hold up is can’t get hammered out.
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