Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe gives the conundrum facing the Celtics a close examination, starting with Paul Pierce: “Pierce averaged 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during the regular season in a career low 33.4 minutes. His shooting percentage dipped to 43.6 primarily because he launched 382 3-pointers, his most since the Big Three Era began. Pierce has value, but it’s tricky. His cachet around the league may have taken a hit because of his playoff performance. The Celtics have to waive him by June 30 and give him a $5 million buyout or his $15.33 million salary becomes guaranteed. Ainge should determine what the market is for Pierce, using the player’s experience, talent, and expiring contract as bait. The best-case scenario is to obtain a younger player in the middle of a multiyear deal that a team wants to dump. That is an unusual situation, but it did occur a few months ago when the Grizzlies were looking to deal Rudy Gay and talked with the Celtics. The Celtics didn’t think Gay was a franchise-caliber player and passed on a deal for Pierce. Ainge also could attempt to pry two players whose salary equals that of Pierce in a trade, but those players likely would be in the middle of multi-year deals, so the Celtics would have to really covet them. Because of his playoff performance and apparent decline, Pierce’s situation will be delicate, especially if the team decides to amnesty his contract. That would slice his salary off the payroll and push the Celtics near the estimated $59 million cap level. But that would do nothing to create space to sign a premium free agent.”- The Nets are also done now, and Johnette Howard of ESPNNewYork.com looks at last night’s Game 7 as symptomatic of their season: “For the Nets, this galling 99-93 loss was a thuddingly bad ending to a schizoprehenic season, and they didn’t pretend otherwise afterward. “I said all along I thought that we were the better team,” forward Gerald Wallace said. “And it hurts. … They came out with a sense of urgency. And we didn’t.” How could that happen to the Nets again? “Put it on my back,” guard Joe Johnson said, refusing to blame the plantar fasciitis he’s been fighting in one foot for his 2-for-14 shooting night.”
- Nets just announced that P.J. Carlesimo will not be retained and that their coaching search is underway immediately
@ESPNSteinLineMarc Stein - The players may not be too happy with Carlesimo’s dismissal. Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com wrote: “Brooklyn Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo’s future is uncertain after his team’s first-round playoff exit. His players, however, would like to see him return. “I think he did a great job,” Nets point guard Deron Williams said after the team’s 99-93 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Barclays Center. “With everything that went on this season, we had a lot of turmoil and he kind of inherited us. And I think he did a great job of leading us and getting us that fourth seed. I’d love to see him back, but as you know, that’s not up to me.” Carlesimo went 35-19 during the regular season after taking over for Avery Johnson following the team’s 14-14 start, which led to Johnson’s dismissal.”
- Billy said HC experience is not a must. Cited Spoelstra, Thibodeau as examples of this being the case.
@TimBontempsTim Bontemps
The other New York team, however, gets to keep going. Here’s what’s in store for them, courtesy of Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: “You don’t get a parade for advancing out of the first round, just a reprieve. And for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks, eliminating the Boston Celtics was a significant step for the franchise — but it is only the beginning. “We’re hungry,” Anthony said on Saturday. “As a team we’re hungry. I’m starving. We want to get past this.” This, of course, is the second round, a place the Knicks haven’t been since 2000. They remain on course for a possible showdown with the Miami Heat while the dream of ending a 40-year championship drought is very much alive. But in order to survive and advance, the Knicks must get past an up-and-coming Indiana Pacers team that has the ability to ruin everything Mike Woodson’s club has worked for. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Tyson Chandler said on the eve of Game 1. “We know we’re going to be in for a battle. We’ve got to be prepared physically to match their play.” “- "I told my guys if he is anywhere near you, give it up & pass it" Vogel on @I_Am_Iman's defense #Knicks
@jonahballowJonah Ballow - Bob Finnan of the News-Herald in northern Ohio looks at what the Cavaliers are planning on doing with their rebuilding effort: “The Cavs can be as much as $18 million under the salary cap on July 1. A couple free-agent signings could go a long way in reshaping their rebuilding project. They appear to have some interest in Memphis shooting guard Tony Allen, an unrestricted free agent. Imagine what Coach Mike Brown could do with Allen and holdovers Alonzo Gee and Anderson Varejao in his efforts to revitalize the Cavs’ defense. The 6-4, 212-pound Allen made $3.3 million this season. The downside is he can’t shoot.”
- Steph Curry, on Popovich comparing him to Michael Jordan: 'Was he drunk when he said that?'
@Monroe_SAMike Monroe
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Re. “Of course, Derrick Rose could make everything easier and simply say so publicly. He refuses. So, Rose will still needlessly linger over this Heat-Bulls series.”
He’ll linger over the series only if frenzied media members like you Adam, keep fawning over him. You’re the guys with the pens and keyboards. Just write him off. He’s a non-story until he inserts himself into the lineup. Period.