celtics roundup

[fth at hurleyit.com]

> --- Pierce has agreed to his extension. That locks him up for the next
> five seasons. That's a perfect deal for the Celts. His deal will be up
> just as he starts to decline. At no point in that contract should he be
> untradeable. Good deal.

I was glad to hear this, partly because I like Pierce, and partly because
it removes, to some extent, that particular side-show, at least for this
year.  That's not to say we won't trade him if the right deal comes along,
but we won't trade him just so we won't lose him for nothing.

> --- Big Al quietly got better every game in Vegas. He was buried pretty
> quickly out there, but I think it's reasonable to expect some rust from
> him after being off for so long. I'm still not willing to hinge
> everything on him, but he deserves some credit for improving throughout
> the week. He has taken some unfair shots this week.

I really think Jefferson was hit by a sophomore slump, and will (pardon
the pun) rebound this year.  I still think he can be the insode force to
complement our athletic scorers.

> --- Rondo has been the most pleasant surprise of Vegas for me. I wasn't
> a fan of picking him up, but it sounds like he's playing well. I still
> question just how good he can be without even a Kidd-level outside shot,
> but it sounds like he has been impressive.

I comfort myself by reminding anyone who will listen that Kidd couldn't
hit crap in his first couple of seasons.  Unfortunately, that's likely not
as true as I think it is.  I can't help but think that if Rondo really is
athletic, and is a hard worker, he should be able to develop SOME
semblance of a shot.  But man, if Marcus Williams develops into a solid
player, and Rondo doesn't, this looks silly.

> --- I hope Philly trades Iverson to someone else soon. I hate this.
> Simmons in his chat yesterday said he'd trade Ratliff, Green, Jefferson
> and a No. 1 for Iverson. That deal would make me sick.

Yeah, I only want Iverson if lack of interest forces Philly's price down a
bunch.  Otherwise, I have trouble accepting a deal, when I consider that
Iverson is NOT a troubled talent in his mid-twenties.

> --- I said it before ... Ainge better be right about Telfair. If not,
> that trade could go down as a really, really bad one. Brandon Roy has
> been impressive by all accounts. If Telfair is just a flashy sideshow,
> Ainge will regret that move. I'm not saying that's the case, but I'm not
> convinced Telfair only needed a change of scenery.

Oh boy.  Yeah.  If Telfair is a gifted distributor who needs some faith
from the coaching staff to work himself into stardom, we win.  But that is
an ENOURMOUS "if."