I gave up on Bill Simmons last year when he tossed his Boston brethren aside and vehemently proclaimed the Lakers were unbeatable.
I haven't read a column since... but others have. The good folks at Perk Is A Beast found this gem in his fantasy hoops preview:
Rajon Rondo
Anything less than a 12-5-7 with 49 percent FG shooting and two-plus steals per game would be disappointing. By the way, after spending $21 million on a Doc Rivers extension and making Tom Thibodeau one of the league’s richest assistants, the Celtics still had to bring Sam Cassell back because Cassell and Ray Allen are the only two people who can get through to Rondo. I thought that was funny.
Follow the link for a very appropriate reaction. I will agree with PIAB: I think Simmons is full of it on this one... but they already said it as well as can be said.
This town has 4 major television media outlets, 2 major newspapers, and a bazillion blogs with people who not only scour the web for information, but who have been to games and practices... and NOT ONCE have we heard a shred of anything that even hints at Rondo being that type of player. You don't see hints of it on the court. You don't see hints of it on the bench. You don't see hints of it anywhere. Probably because it's not true.
Moving on... the blogger NBA previews continue. Here are the Northwest and Southeast Previews:
Denver Nuggets
Jeremy: Pickaxe and Roll
Nick Sclafani: The Nugg Doctor
Minnesota Timberwolves
Derek Hanson & Staff: TWolves Blog
Andrew Thell: Empty the Bench
wyn: Canis Hoopus
Oklahoma City
xphoenix87: BallerBlogger
Zorgon: Blue Blitz
Royce: The Thunderworld
Portland Trail Blazers
Mookie: ...a stern warning
Benjamin Golliver: Blazers Edge
Coup and SJ: Rip City Project
Utah Jazz
UtesFan89: The Utah Jazz
Basketball John: SLC Dunk
Atlanta Hawks
Matt McHale: Basketbawful
Hoopinion: Peachtree Hoops
Charlotte Bobcats
BrettL: Queen City Hoops
Ziggy: BobcatsPlanet
Miami Heat
Darren Heitner: SportsAgentBlog.com
Gregory Broome: The Peninsula is Mightier
Orlando Magic
Ben: Third Quarter Collapse
Washington Wizards
Rashad: Hoops Addict
HoopsAvenue: HoopsAvenue
Mike Prada: Bullets Forever
Truth: Truth About It Dot Net
Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com