Every week I gather some thoughts about the Celtics, the NBA, and beyond and dump them here. Because I’m finally done pretending my marriage to Jada Pinkett is going fine.
- Don’t think we’re just gonna forget about Jaylen Brown starting the preseason with his shorts on backwards. This should become a trend. People should go to games with shorts on backwards. They should photoshop him into old Kris Kross photos when they were wearing their clothes backwards. Lean into it, JB.
- Word out of Celtics practice is that Svi Mykhailiuk still hasn’t missed. My big question for him is whether he’s going to be able to find that same blistering stroke in more sporadic minutes. That's where Boston will really get their value.
- Payton Pritchard pays his buddies who play overseas to hang out with him and guard him during drills in the offseason wherever he is in the world. I’m just gonna throw it out there, Payton … I’m also available for a free vacation if you really want to make it super-realistic and have a media member ask you mundane questions afterwards. Or if that doesn’t work, I can really play any role. I can be a fan of another team that yells things that you will later use as inspiration. Think about it.
- This whole Orlando Arcia/Bryce Harper stuff is so dumb. Does anyone actually believe Harper wouldn't have hit those bombs if Arcia didn't say anything? Those pitches were dust no matter who said what. Arcia didn't throw those meatballs. Most meaningless storyline going right now.
It’s the playoffs. No one needs any extra motivation. If you’re not fully motivated in these situations and it takes someone yelling “atta boy” about a dumb play, then you’re doing sports wrong.
The fact is Harper was more pissed at himself for the bad baserunning play. Arcia was just a place to focus his rage.
- Sorry, ESPN, there's no way you can convince me 100 NBA players are better than Derrick White.
- Kevin Garnett has been getting paid $5 million per year in deferred salary since his retirement. He has one more of those payments coming. That's called having a good agent. It’s nice to have some pad in case the spending habits of an NBA superstar outlast that superstar’s knees and ankles.
- Is there a player in the league that has taken more cheap shots than Daniel Theis?
- Speaking of which, Dillon Brooks trying to brand himself as the league’s biggest villain is not the right play for him. He’s not good enough for that. All he’s going to do is low blow his way out of the league.
- So you’re telling me the NBA couldn't find a better way to space out the preseason schedule for the Celtics? They couldn't play in Providence? Worcester? Manchester? Mohegan Sun?
- Malcolm Brogdon seems to be fine. I’m still waiting for Robert Williams to get on the floor for Portland. Marcus Smart still hasn’t suited up in Memphis, either.
- Get Miles Bridges out of the league already. Someone take a stand and say even good players can lose their standing in the league when they do horrible things.
- RIP Brendan Malone.
- I’m dying … DYING … for the Clippers to trade for Brogdon just so I can see the look on James Harden’s face.
- Someone get Kai Jones some help.
- The NBA now says there's no scientific evidence that load management works. This after believing in the concept to a point where every NBA team has an extensive sports science program that monitors player fatigue.
It also runs completely counter to the belief the league itself had.
Kind of makes you wonder why the NBA would change its mind so vocally and publicly? I’m sure it has nothing to do with the impending television deal and networks wanting to be assured they're getting superstar matchups for their premium dollar. I can’t imagine the league would take a disingenuous stand just to make an extra billion dollars.
- Larry Bird made his NBA debut 44 years ago yesterday. I know I’ve said this recently, but Bird would still roast the NBA if he made his debut yesterday. It’s too bad social media has turned guys like LaMelo Ball into superheroes but the young generation can’t appreciate what Bird did.
Eh, there's no use in getting worked up about it. I’ll just sit here drinking my Metamucil shake while filling out my AARP application form.
- Wishing Mary Lou Retton the best as she fights a rare form of pneumonia in intensive care.
- Hockey coverage won’t be the same without Barry Melrose around.
- I’m excited for the new movie “The Iron Claw” about the Von Erich wrestling family. The Von Erichs versus the Freebirds was an epic feud during my childhood. They really made it feel real. Their tragic story will be an interesting one to see on film.
- What kind of coaching do you get when you have a grizzled NBA vet on the team? Here’s Sam Cassell putting Jrue Holiday through a quick grifting clinic when he has the ball in the post.
Sam Cassell working with Jrue Holiday on backing guys down pic.twitter.com/fkWSzJsp8V
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) October 13, 2023
You don’t last as long as Sam has in the league without picking up a few tricks.
- Here’s my latest podcast, if you’re bored.
