RedsArmy.com - The Voice Of Celtics Fans

Ray Allen does Halloween better than you

Yeah, he could have gone as a Tiger... but Ray as Darth Maul works too. 

Now if only he can recreate a fight scene with KG as Mace Windu.

One question:  do people as rich as Ray know where to buy actual lightsabers?

More, via Ray's twitpic, after the jump

Least surprising news ever: Rondo talks continue

Shocker.

Although the past few days have been mostly quiet on the contract front for Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, both sides are expected to connect Sunday for one last attempt to come together on a new deal before Monday's deadline for contract extensions for members of the 2006 draft class, according to sources close to the process.

What?  You mean to tell me that public declarations about contract negotiations have been less than truthful?

*gasp*

What can I believe in now?  Next thing you're gonna tell me is that Heidi and Spencer are just two self-absorbed, camera-hogging douchebags that will take whatever desperate measures necessary to stay in the spotlight instead of two crazy-in-love kids.

Don't you dare.  DON'T.  YOU.  DARE!

Thanks KWAPT

Shelden vs. Artest... who ya got?

The Celtics signed Shelden Williams for just under $2 million this year.  The Lakers are paying Ron Artest about $7 million per year for 5 years. 

So it stand to reason that Ron Artest is coming out of the box hot and showing Lakers fans that he's ready to finally help a team win it all.

Oh Wait...

Yeah yeah.... I know it's early.  But it's fun. 

Say LA... how'd that game go last night?

Happy Halloween Part 2!

There's only one way to celebrate Halloween on this site, that's with NBA dancers in costume.

Enjoy...

Happy Halloween Part 1!

Brilliant illustration from Boston Dirt Dogs (Via Loscy).  Very fitting for Halloween, wouldn't you say?

Why is this post called "part one?"  Because Chuck is putting together "part two" as we speak... and I think you'll like it.

The Week in Review

In a week that brought us some much needed regular season basketball, we had just as much off-court news as we did on-court stuff.

The biggest event came Tuesday night, when the Celtics stunned the Cavaliers. Despite the win, It took exactly 3 hours for us to start bitching about Ray Allen's minutes. It took the same amount of time for the Cavs to bitch about Shaq.

We were treated to a blowout for the home opener. The introduction and Paul Pierce's speech may have been the best part.

The Bulls came to town (with Jalen Rose in uniform?) and while some were hoping for drama similar to last year's playoff series, that wasn't the case.

Glen Davis (and cast) made his first public appearance since the infamous early morning fight. While an embarassed Big Baby apologized, we were reminded (by Shank) that Larry Bird pulled a similar stunt 24 years ago.

He won't sign. He will sign. He's getting traded for T-Mac. We heard numerous reports ($9 million vs $12 million) about Rajon Rondo's contract situation. Regardless of what happens before the Monday deadline, this we know for sure, Rondo has been dominant.

Of course, it can't be a Laker-free week on Reds Army. We ripped intelligently countered Scottie Pippen's case the Lakers could win 72+ games. And we saw that hilarious NBA promo featuring Odom and the trophy.

We also published our first sneaker review - the Converse Weapon. What won't be published is Tim Donaghy's book revealing league referees as frauds. Fortunately, we have excerpts of all the shady stories.

If there's a highlite you heard about and missed, or just want to see again, check out John's YouTube page. It's loaded with stuff from games.

Your Morning Dump... featuring Rondo's 16 dimes

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline.  Because there's nothing quite as satisfying a good morning dump.

“We do those (television) interviews in the third quarter, and (the reporter) said that he only took two shots, and I said, ‘Yeah, but he’s the most dominant player on the floor right now,’ ” said coach Doc Rivers following the Celtics’ 118-90 win over Chicago. “I thought he controlled the game with his speed. He took only two shots tonight, and someone will read the stats and say, he only had two points, and if you didn’t see the game you wouldn’t know the impact he had on our team tonight.”

Boston Herald: 'Dominant' Rajon Rondo in giving mood

“There was a time where he kind of picked and chose,’’ Rivers said. “If it was Rose, he was really up. [Now] he’s just been up. And he’s been that through practices . . . He’s just playing now. He’s not, ‘Oh, tonight we have Rose.’ It doesn’t matter the opponent. He’s just playing his game and doing it, being very solid.’’

There was a stretch of three straight possessions in the third in which Rondo found Ray Allen for a long jumper and a pair of 3-pointers, and Allen said, “It’s weird because I never really felt like he had the ball at all.’’

Boston Globe:  Big Bullies

I like Derrick Rose and I think he's gonna be a stud in this league, but he was outclassed last night.  10 points, 2 assists, 2 turnovers isn't going to get the job done.  While Rose looked a little confused by the Celtics defense out there, Rondo had Bulls' defenders basically doing pirouettes.  When they clogged the middle, he spun and found guys on the perimeter.  When they tried to hop into passing lanes, Rondo knifed through and found guys at the rim.  He did whatever he wanted.  The last line in Ray's quote shows how dominant Rondo was.  Rondo dominated the game and he barely had the ball... he barely scored... and he barely played 30 minutes.  That, my friends, is scary good.

After the jump: Page 2... where Ray passed Stockton

That really got out of hand fast

The first quarter of tonight's game started to feel like last year's playoffs all over again.  The Celtics looked like they were trying to take control of the game, but the Bulls were doing that thing they do.... flying in for offensive rebounds, flying everywhere on the court.... to stay in the game.

Then the second quarter happened, and the Celtics outscored the Bulls 29-18 to take a 50-35 halftime lead.

And then the third quarter happened, and the Celtics put up 38 points to take a 30 point lead and turn a highly anticipated rematch of what's widely considered one of (if not THE) greatest playoff series' of all time into a laugher that shows the very wide disparity between these two teams.

Some numbers of note:

• In 29:55 of play, Rajon Rondo dished 16 assists and grabbed 8 rebounds.  He only took 2 shots, yet he had total control of the game. Oh... and only two turnovers.  That's 5 turnovers in 3 games if you're keeping count... and I am (so is Rondo's agent, I'm sure).
• Ray Allen played 23:17.  Which means I can step back off the ledge.  He shot 7-9 and scored 20 points.  Yeah, he got hot.
• Paul Pierce: 5-7 from 3... and 8 more rebounds.  Pierce has been chomping glass so far this season.
• The C's defense is ridiculous.  Look at these numbers from the Chicago side of the box score:  41.2% shooting, 13.3% from 3, 19 assists-15 turnovers.  The scrub vs. scrub battle is the only reason Chicago scored 90 points. 

And how's KG's knee you ask?  Here's your answer:

Cruise through the box score.  Check out Eddie House's numbers... Shelden Williams' numbers... and Marquis Daniels' numbers all came in that 2nd quarter breakout run. 

In fact, we should take a second to highlight what Quisy did.  Early in the game, the Celtics were in a ton of foul trouble and it could have gotten bad.  But Quisy and the 2nd unit just came in and rolled the Bulls.  Rolled 'em. 

This bench is gonna destroy teams on a nightly basis.  Book it.

Meet Big Baby's Cast

 

That's Glen Davis and his cast moments before taking the official team photo on the floor of the Garden.

Big Baby and Danny Ainge faced the media at 7:30pm.

"I feel like I let a lot people down and it hurts. It was a stupid mistake. Something I have learned from."

Ainge called the incident "unfortunate," and said the team would not suspend Davis. We thought they already had.

The Globe has more:

"We want him around the team," President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said. "We want him on the road. We want him working out. We want him conditioning with the team and continuing to learn everything that we're doing right now to progress and move forward.

"This was an unfortunate incident. Glen has apologized to owners, teammates and coaches and fans and everybody. It's time to move forward, put it behind us."

Said Davis: "It's been tough watching the guys play and not being there. I just want to move on and stay in shape to make sure I'm ready to play. It was a stupid mistake. Something I most definitely have learned from and looking forward. I wish it would have never happened."

If you can't watch on TV tonight, ESPN360.com is carrying the game.

(Photo courtesy WBZ-TV) 
 

Everyone point and laugh at the Clippers

The Clippers are, well, the Clippers.  And they're bad enough right now that the Onion is decimating them by calling their deaths in a Staples Center collapse a "miracle". 

Oh Onion... you so crazy.