Youkilis Trading In His Red Sox for Some White Ones

Yesterday afternoon immediately after, or during Youkilis’s at bat in the 7^th up to you to decide, the Red Sox wrapped up a 3 game set with the visiting Atlanta Braves the inevitable happened and Kevin Youkilis was dealt. To whom he was dealt however was somewhat a surprise considering most people had him linked to the SF Giants, AZ DBacks, Cincinnati Reds, or Cleveland Indians but in the last few days the dark horse White Sox emerged victorious. In the deal the Red Sox agreed to ship Youkilis and $5.6 million of his remaining $8 million salary for the rest of the year to the White Sox for super utilityman Brent Lillibridge and minor league RHP Zach Stewart. When you break down the deal, in my eyes, comes out as a win-win for both the White Sox and the Red Sox.

Looking at the deal from the White Sox perspective first they were able to land a proven middle of the lineup hitter on the relative cheap. Youkilis has struggled in Boston the past years ever since the Sox asked him to move across the diamond to his natural position of 3B to accommodate 1B Adrian Gonzalez. Prior to 2011 Youkilis, who started his career as a 3B but moved across the diamond to first to accommodate Mike Lowell, had become a 2-time AL All Star and Gold Glove winner at 1B. During his first 4 years at first base Youkilis managed to play in at least 136 games every season. In his final year at first he got hurt and racked up only 102 and last year after moving to third base the injury bug struck him again and he missed 42 games. This year he once again was struck by injuries and played in only 42 of a possible 72 games. Everything I just described to you coupled with the emergence of 3B of the future Will Middlebrooks is exactly why the Red Sox felt they could move Youkilis before a become a free agent at the end of the year (he has a $13 million club option that he’s known wasn’t going to get picked up from day 1).

The White Sox are getting a versatile, disciplined hitter who, if healthy, can provide them with the stability they’ve been lacking at third base. Youk is a career .287 hitter who hit over .300 for 3 consecutive years from 2008-2010. He can also play a pretty good third base and an above average first base whenever the White Sox want to give Paul Konerko a breather. Youkilis’s power numbers have dipped slightly in the past couple of years after peaking during his peak stretch between 2008-2010 but he’s shown recently that he still has the ability to hit the baseball a long way. The White Sox have been playing with a black hole over at third base since Brent Morel went down earlier in the year yet they managed to grab back 1^st place in the AL Central with a 1-0 walk off win on Sunday night. Kenny Williams showed his fearless side once again by going after the piece he knew his team needed to win this year while also not sacrificing his youth movement. Youkilis is an instant upgrade for the White Sox and as long as he can stay healthy he provides them with the kind of bat that might just allow them to stave off the Indians and the super talented Tigers.

From the Red Sox perspective the move was more about addition by subtraction then anything else. The return on Youkilis is halfway decent considering he’s been injury plagued the last few years and appears to be on the downslope of his career but it’s nowhere near the relief they get in now being able to plug Middlebrooks into third base for the foreseeable future without any sign of a controversy. Bobby V had been forced into playing musical chairs between Youkilis, Gonzalez, and Middlebrooks ever since Youk’s return from the disabled list but finally that’s over and he can now write in Gonzalez at 1B and Middlebrooks at 3B, barring injuries, for the duration. This deal also helps down the road when outfielders Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury come back and their won’t be a free spot in RF for Gonzalez to shuffle out to whenever Bobby V is trying to get all his bats in the lineup.

Middlebrooks has proven that he can hit big league by making the necessary adjustments after setting the world on fire in his first few games then getting figured out by the pitchers. It’s a cat and mouse game and I wasn’t fully buying into the Middlebrooks is ready hype until I saw him make the next move in the game of chess and in the past week or so he’s made that move.

The trade of Youk will also most likely help ease tensions in the clubhouse since it was a well-known fact, or well assumed, that Youk is the one who sold Beckett and the other drunkards down the river last year after the team’s epic September collapse. I don’t like that it appears the Red Sox have chosen to stick with Beckett and his antics because he’s a more irreplaceable piece than Youkilis but he it’s a business and there was a replacement waiting for Youkilis while there isn’t someone readily available to fill Beckett’s golf spikes. Hopefully without Youkilis around Beckett, Lester, and Buchholz (after he gets off the DL) will loosen up a little bit and pitch more like the guys we saw in 2010 not the jabronis who ran out there every 5^th day in 2011.

For tangible pieces the Red Sox got something in the form of Zach Stewart. Brent Lillibridge is a nice little defensive bench piece but he’ll never be more than that based on his .215 lifetime average and .175 he’s hitting this year. He can play anywhere on the diamond outside of pitcher and catcher and he gives Bobby V some defensive flexibility down the stretch in tight ball games. The real prize however is Zach Stewart and the potential he possesses to possibly become a good middle of the rotation big league starter. After being drafted in the 3^rd round out of Texas Tech in 2008, Stewart has shown he’s a valuable piece being traded twice already, once for Scott Rolen and once for Edwin Jackson (I prefer to look at him being traded three times now as an indictment to his talent level not that teams think he sucks). In both of those deals Stewart was the centerpiece due to his repertoire of pitches and ability to command all of them in the strike zone. In this move I think the Red Sox get a kid who has a good chance of being a big league starter and worst case he’s a nice bullpen piece after doing that for the first part of his minor league career and during the few games he’s been in up at the major league level. A look at his minor league numbers shows a guy with good control but is a little too hittable right now. He’s only 25 however and I like his odds to straighten that out a little bit and become more of a painter on the edges of the black and effectively be able to get big league hitters out. During his brief big league career he has managed to pitch 97 innings and only give up 22 BBs compared to 61 K’s so the potentials their the key for the Red Sox is tapping into that potential.

All in all I’m sad to see the talent level Youkilis brings to the table go but I think it was a move the Red Sox needed to make in order to get a glimpse at their third baseman of the future today. I don’t think Stewart helps the Red Sox this year but either next year or possible the year after I think you’re looking at a nice piece in the middle of the BoSox rotation. Good luck to Youkilis and we’ll see how he’s looking in the White Sox digs when he returns to the Fens in mid-July.

Geoff Jablonski

An Arm's Length Away

As much as I'd like to blame most things on Bobby Valentine, and trust me there's a lot of peculiar things that he's doing, the Red Sox are bottom line getting out-pitched. Tony Massarotti once again absolutely nailed it with one of his recent columns.

Although the Red Sox have pitched better, no one is stepping up and really being an Ace and right now that's what the Red Sox need more than anything. The problem with the conundrum they are in, is the fact that Ace's don't grow on trees and if you'd like to buy them it's going to cost you a pound of flesh and your first born. But given the current woes and turmoil in the clubhouse it's absolutely time for a change. No one outside of Pedroia, Middlebrooks and Doubront from the Major League roster and Ryan Lavarnway, Xander Bogaerts, and Matt Barnes from the Minor League roster is untouchable. (You'll note that I didn't include Jose Iglesias. I still love him, but Bogaerts has my vote for SS of the future now.)

With the list of untouchable players being just six names long, (yes, it's gotten that bad), it could make for an active market and a blockbuster in the making.

My solution is to call up Brian Sabean of the San Francisco Giants and try to pry Tim Lincecum from the Bay Area. Tim Lincecum is having a dreadful year (2-8, 6.19ERA, 1.57WHIP and the highest H/9, HR/9, BB/9 of his career) however in the last 5 years he's won two Cy Young Awards and is the kind of pitcher that takes the ball whenever asked (I'm looking at you Clay Buchholz) and right now I for one would love to see someone with a little more grit and balls. Kevin Garnett is a free agent right? Oh, wrong sport.

How does one get such an established, polished pitcher? It's going to cost quite a bit. I think it starts with Jacoby Ellsbury (obviously if/when he comes back) but that is not all. I think the Giants will need an arm as well for a deal like this. The list then includes one of Clay Buchholz, Anthony Ranaudo, Drake Britton or Henry Owens. If I'm the Red Sox I don't let anyone or anything touch the aforementioned trio of Lavarnway, Bogaerts or Barnes.

The next question you should ask logically would be: "Why would the Giants do this?" I commend you if you did ask this and this is explained simply. San Francisco has locked up Matt Cain (6 yr $127.5 million or an average $22 mil per year for the next 6 years), They also still have Zito who is on the hook for at the very least $27 million dollars over the next 2 years ($20 million in 2013 and an $18 mil club option in 2014 with a $7 million buyout). They have also locked up Bumgarner to a long-term deal (5 years 35 million) albeit at lower money. I'm not sure San Francisco is in the market to having two 20+ million dollar per year pitchers while still being able to fill out a roster that is in dire need of offense. That's almost 50 million invested in the rotation NOT including Tim Lincecum. There is no way they can afford to do that without seriously jeopardizing their offense.

Despite not being able to sign a $20 million dollar per year pitcher I think they could afford to do that with a position player. If Jacoby Ellsbury is the player that his 2011 would suggest, he is going to command that type of money. Right now his figure is $8.05 million, and despite not being healthy and not playing a whole year, that will go up. However, the Red Sox have players on their roster that could possibly make losing Ellsbury palatable if not a good business decision.

When the Red Sox signed Carl Crawford, everyone thought that he and Ellsbury's skill sets were redundant and I agree. Carl Crawford isn't going ANYWHERE with that behemoth contract and lackluster performance, therefore you need to move one of them. Couple that, with a healthy Ryan Kalish and a blossoming Bryce Brentz and you could be looking at a more cost-effective outfield which could allow us to spend a little more (wisely) on the rotation.

The Red Sox should make moves early this year and not wait for the trading deadline because frankly, they may not be in contention in July and they can still salvage this year while still building for the future at the same time.

OKC Thunder vs. Miami Heat: Who Ya Got NBA Fans?

The manner in which these two heavyweights came to meet in the NBA Finals couldn't be more different. The Thunder did it thru savvy free agent signings and trades coupled with hitting the mark on a few top 5 picks. The Thunder also took the precarious route of ducking and running from a city that loved them, Seattle, and kindling a passion for basketball in a city that is as far from a basketball hub as humanly possible, Oklahoma City. The Miami Heat on the other hand become the NBA's resident villain by convincing 2 of the games top 15 players, sorry Boshtrich I can't call you top 10, to take their talents to South Beach and join resident superstar Dwayne Wade. In most people's eyes the Heat took the easy route by luring multiple marquee free agents to Miami and convincing them to coexist with a street ball offense. The Thunder did it thru development the Heat thru spending but one thing they do have in common is that they are both led by out of this world talent in Kevin Durant and LeBron James, respectively.

A Thunder/Heat matchup is a great study in depth versus pure star power. The Thunder do have supreme star talent in SF Kevin Durant and PG Russell Westbrook but those two are backed up by the NBA's best 6th man in James Harden and a stable of interior strength in athleticism headlines by Serge Ibaka. The Heat happen to run 2 of the games top 5 players out there for 42 minutes a night and with the Boshtrich healed and ready to go they now have somewhat of an inside presence. With DWade and LBJ the Heat are never out of a game due to either ones ability to take the team and put it on their back for an extended period of time. The rest of the starting lineup and those off the bench however would struggle to start for the Kentucky Wildcats. This is truly a full team effort versus a few very talented individuals.

Most casual fans assume that the Heat hold an advantage in the athleticism category but a look at their roster beyond the Big 3 reveals a roster full of underwhelming athleticism. When Mario Chalmers is your 4th most athletic player well you're teams not all that athletic then is it? Shane Battier and Mike Miller are both spot up shooters, Joel Anthony is a nice defensive center but he's way too easy to guard on the offensive end and Norris Cole and Ronny Turiaf aren't even worth mentioning. The Thunder on the other hand run out 5 guys all under the age of 28 in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and Thabo Sefolosha who can hang with anyone in the NBA.

The Thunder have the right combination of length defensively and scoring prowess offensively to neutralize the high octane offense the Heat have put together. The Heat have played solid defense so far through the playoffs but a look at their opponents shows a much weaker road to the Finals then the one taken by the Thunder. The Heat have played the Knicks, Pacers, and an aging Celtics team while the Thunder have had to go through the defending champion Mavericks, Lakers, and the recent winners of 20 in a row Spurs. The Thunder have played top notch teams while the Heat have battled through a much weaker Eastern Conference. The Thunder have proven that their full of 'grit and balls' as KG would say and that they are ready to deliver a knockout blow to the Heat after they escaped the Celtics grasp by winning game 6 in Boston and game 7 at home.

Of course the great equalizer in all of this analysis is the ability of LeBron James to become the best player the NBA has seen since Jordan's hay day. Don't get me wrong I love Kevin Durant, partially because he's amazing and partially because we spent 2006-2007 at the University of Texas together, but LeBron James has the ability to absolutely shred a defense and create plays for his teammates like no other. So far throughout the playoffs no team has had the length or athleticism to hang with LeBron for a full series but that's where I think the Thunder gain an advantage over the Heat's other opponents. Between Sefolosha, Durant, and Ibaka the Thunder have the length to bottle up James and frustrate him. Nobody has the ability to complete shut down James for 48 minutes but I believe the Thunder will be able to slow him down and force DWade and the Boshtrich to pick up the slack and deliver a win.

The Thunder are currently riding a 4 game winning streak over a team in the Spurs who before losing 4 in a row to the Thunder had won 20 straight games and looked like the clear cut favorites to wear the crown as champion yet the Thunder were able to outmuscle them with the likes of Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, and Nick Collison. The Thunder are flying high and have one of the best home crowds in the NBA that will come in handy with their home court advantage. The Heat have been tested this postseason and they have, for the first time, answered the bell and won the big games. They won't go down without a fight but I think that in the end the Thunder will pack too much of a punch for the Heat to survive.

The Thunder DO have the 3 time reigning scoring champion in Kevin Durant who, unlike LeBron, appears to have the clutch gene after scoring 18 points in the 4th quarter of game 5 against the Spurs to steal home court advantage. Durant is a stud scorer and is a natural at pouring in buckets on a consistent basis. The Heat also don't have a matchup that they like against him. He's too tall for LBJ to guard him and he's too quick and can pull Bosh or Anthony away from the hoop. He's the exact type of the player the Heat struggle to defend and will continue to struggle to defend in this series.

The final piece of the puzzle that tips the scales in the Thunder's favor is the matchup of Scott Brooks vs. Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra can't diagram a play or come up with someone creative in crunch time to save his life and Scott Brooks is currently the best coach in the NBA that nobody knows his name. He's a whiz and he's got the Thunder to play up to their abilities and even beyond. He's a great coach and one of these days, if the Thunder win the NBA title perhaps, he'll get his due as a top XO's guy and master motivator. The Thunder emerged victorious in the brutal Western Conference and I believe that they'll also emerge victorious in 6 games over the Miami Mojitos. LeBron James will have a good series but I think Kevin Durant will do him one better and get his first championship again shutting LeBron out in the cold.

STAFF PICKS:


Nort - Thunder in 5
ZHawk - Thunder in 5
Lang - Thunder in 6

Geoff Jablonski

The Title Run That Wasn't (A look back at the Celtics 2012)

You know me well enough by now to know that if I can take a snipe at players that aren't playing up to snuff or that don't give 100% effort all the time I'm going to do it and I could care less about whose feelings I hurt along the way.

Was Rondo by and large horrible in Game 7? You know it.

Were the Celtics up 3-2 in a series heading back to Boston to close out a ridiculous, heavily-favored Heat team? Yup.

Is it possible that the Celtics thought that they clinched the series (and effectively broke the Heat) in Game 5 with a particularly hard-fought win in South Beach? Absolutely.

So given those three questions in the affirmative, why am I not screaming for Rondo and the Gang's heads after an epic fail in the 4th quarter of Saturday's Game? Because I don't think they choked. I think they lost in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals despite moving on to Miami.

Avery Bradley's injury was the be-all, end-all for any sort of title run for the Celtics this year. He was the only player on the floor that could keep Rondo engaged, because he was the ONLY one that could out-run him and the only one that could truly run with him. He also was the only player that you could put on EITHER Dwayne Wade or LeBron James, and shut them down which would allow the other 4 players on the court to play help defense and concentrate more on rebounding.

It has been said that "the Celtics go how Rondo goes", and you'll note that the C's turned their season around when Allen went out with an injury, Bradley took the reigns on the 2 guard slot and ran his way into the hearts of Celtics fans which re-ignited Rondo's thoughts of grandeur.

At times Rondo was frustrated with the lack of speed that the aging Celtics stars' showed and Bradley was that youthful piece that had Rondo playing that schoolyard run and gun that he loves to show. Admit it, you started watching Celtics games again (with optimism) when you saw that tenacious defense, insane foot speed and that ridiculous block on Dwayne Wade on that Nationally Televised game in April.

As for the rest of the team/season, the last time I felt so invested in a T-E-A-M, was the 2004 Red Sox. Kevin Garnett finally built his DeLorean, and seeing the old KG was a treat that I didn't think I'd get to see again. It took Jesus a while but to see Ray Allen's stroke come back in Game 7 was only fitting that he end his career in Boston (and make no mistake he's not coming back) the same way it started, with that smooth quick release draining triple after triple. Paul Pierce was by and large a liability in this series, I hate to say that but his offense killed us, however seeing him drain a three in LeBron's face is a lasting image that puts a devious smirk on my face. Brandon Bass has turned out to be one of the top three trades that Danny Ainge has made as Boston's GM.

As for 2013, What will happen?

For Starters, Kevin Garnett is not retiring and the Celtics will sign him to a 2-year, I'm thinking around 20-million dollar deal. That would line his contract up with Paul Pierce and then the two of them can ride off into the sunset together like Tonto and the Lone Ranger.

Ray Allen will leave and most likely become a member of the Miami Heat. He carried himself with the utmost professionalism despite not being a fan of coming off the bench, and he wants to start and would start for many teams in the NBA. I personally would like to thank Mr. Shuttlesworth for the privilege of allowing me to watch him play for the Celtics. You are a true professional and if more players were like you I'd have far less to bitch about.

Brandon Bass has a player option, but I hope the Celtics rip it up and sign him to a two year deal.

As far as free agency goes, I think the Celtics need to think Big. The players I want them to target are: Carl Landry, Roy Hibbert and Chris Kaman. A little factoid that may not be known by all was that Landry had the highest success rate down on the block than anyone else in the NBA. Hibbert would be a defensive force that could really sure up the lane from the slashers of Miami.  and Kaman would be, in a word, white. I also would LOVE to see them take a flyer on Greg Oden. Call me a person that likes to believe in the feel-good story but I'd love to see Greg Oden revive his career in the Bean (he's still only 25!). I don't anticipate him playing much in 2013 but he'd be affordable and getting him ingrained in the KG culture, could pay dividends for the 2014 season.

A Starting Lineup of Rondo, Bradley, Pierce Garnett and Hibbert/Landry sounds pretty formidable.

The Celtics will most likely be getting Jeff Green back, despite his impending free agency. Chris Wilcox is also on the mend and would be a tremendous addition to the bench. Players like E-Twaun Moore and JuJuan Johnson will probably have an increased role in the team which probably means that Dooling is out in place of Moore and Hollins is out in place of Johnson. The Steamer isn't going anywhere and if he can somehow control his rampant fouling will be a shot-blocking assassin coming off the bench.

A bench of Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox, E-Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson isn't the worst that I've seen either.

If the Celtics signed everyone back from this year they are already better than Orlando, Atlanta, Indiana and a Derek Rose-less Chicago so if they were to let Allen walk, (to be replaced by a younger better defender in Bradley) and become a little younger and more efficient off the bench. Miami is the ONLY threat in the East next year as of right now and one thing that Miami doesn't have is a low-post presence. With the defense of Bradley stymieing one of Wade or James, Garnett moving back to the 4 to guard Bosh, A post player is the one thing that Miami would have no answer for.

I completely agree with Doc Rivers when he says, "I'm going to look at them as a group collective. They all gave up plus‑seven shots each. They gave up minutes. I asked them to play defense and move the ball, and they all did it, and they're willing to do it for the better of the team. That's what I'll remember most about them."

It was my pleasure watching this group collective and I can think of no team I'd rather admire.

A Celtics, Red Sox, and Bruins Smorgasbord For The Boston Faithful

The past week in Boston sports has been loaded with news across the board ranging from the Sox reemergence to the Celtics tying up the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead of writing three separate posts addressing the hot button topics for the Sox, Celtics, and Bruins I've decided to write one big post that touches all bases. Without further adieu here's some fodder for the Boston based sports fan.

Checking in with the Red Sox...

As a team the Red Sox have been playing better as of late taking 3 out of 4 from the overhyped Detroit Tigers, including batting around Verlander a little bit, and then climbing out of the AL East basement by beating the Blue Jays 2 out of 3. Offensively the Red Sox are clicking with David Ortiz leading the way and Kevin Youkilis and Ryan Sweeney finding their way off the DL and into the lineup. Ryan Sweeney has done a great job as a fringe player in the Andrew Bailey deal by currently tying for the league lead in OF doubles at 16. He hasn't hit for power he's played solid defense and done well with the stick. The other pleasant surprise that has come about in the past month is Daniel Nava playing a solid LF and hitting the ball consistently like he never has before.

The Sox have won 6 of their last 8 series, only dropping 1 against the Rays and splitting a 2 game set with those same Rays. Their maligned starting rotation and bullpen have righted themselves with the bullpen rocking 4 pitchers sporting ERAs under 3.00 led by Scott Atchison at 0.86 (All Star anyone?). In the rotation Beckett, for all his indiscretions, has actually chalked up 7 quality starts out of 10 outings with 2 of those non quality starts coming against the same team in the Detroit Tigers. He's been throwing better of late and yes he's a dickhead and can be a callous prick but he's done a good job of shutting down opponents. Clay Buchholz has started to get back on track as well looking more like the guy we saw in 2010 and early 2011 before breaking his back. Back to back quality starts against Rays and Blue Jays is what I like to see out of him. Jon Lester has battled inconsistency as of late but he'll find his way he does this every single year and as far as the youngster Felix Doubront is concerned he's been the Sox best and most consistent starter. Doubront leads Sox starters with 6 wins, a 3.75 ERA, and a 66:25 K:BB. Can't complain about that in the 4 spot but you know what I can complain about? Daniel Bard, the starting pitcher.

In my eyes the experiment is over it's time to send Bard back to the bullpen where he was one of baseball's top set up guys. After watching him struggle yet again with his control by walking 6 guys and hitting two others on his way to giving up 5 ERs on 1 hit in 1.2 IP against the Blue Jays I'm done with this experiment, for now. Bard came out after the game and said that he's not sure everyone involved approached his transition from reliever to starter properly since he's having trouble repeating his delivery pitch to pitch. Uhhh isn't that your job? To make sure that you can repeat your delivery on a consistent enough basis to be a starting pitcher? It's time to send him back to the bullpen let him right the ship and then maybe later this year or next year he can try again to hack it in the starting rotation. Personally I'd rather have the Daniel Bard who throws 97-99 MPH in the 8th inning striking out 10 guys per 9 innings as opposed to the starter who throws 90-92 and a K:BB of 34:37. That's right more walks than strikeouts that's just not acceptable for a team that has World Series aspirations. Do what's best for the Boston Red Sox Bobby V and put Bard in the back end of your bullpen until you and Bob McClure are positive that he can strike out more guys than he walks.

Onto the Eastern Conference Finalist Boston Celtics...

It's become a 3 game series between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. After the Heat won the first 2 games in Miami the Celtics did their job and held serve by winning the next two at the The Garden. Their are two major reasons the Celtics were able to fend off the Heat and win two games at home: Rajon Rondo taking over and Kevin Garnett finding the fountain of youth. 

Out of the 4 games the two teams have played so far Garnett has racked up 3 double doubles and in the 2 wins he has put 24 /11 and 17/14. Garnett has been the teams heart and soul, a great defender, and caused the Heat all kinds of problems with his rebounding prowess in the middle. The Heat have struggled to find someone who can guard him away from the basket and in the paint, where Garnett has been spending more time than I think I've ever seen him do in Celtics green. Even if Chris Bosh comes back in game 5 I don't know if he'll have the ability to hold up against Garnett in the paint after a 21 day layoff with an abdominal strain. 

The other guy who's been unreal for the Celtics is embattled PG Rajon Rondo. After going the distance and playing all 53 minutes in a game 2 OT loss, not to mention a career high 44 points, Rondo did what few people could do and bounced back 2 days later and played 43 minutes putting up 21 points and 10 assists. In game 4 after the Celtics jumped out to a big early lead and the Heat stormed back to send it to OT Rondo stayed the course and led the Celtics to a 93-91 victory. His stat line: 15 points, 15 assists, and only 3 TOs. For the entire series Rondo has only turned the ball over 11 times. Think about that...11 times in 4 games! For a PG that's an unreal number. Rondo has been consistently hitting open jumpers and forcing the Heat to make defensive adjustments by playing either LeBron or Battier on him. He's been a matchup nightmare for the Heat and if he can continue to be then the Celtics have a good chance of coming out on top in these Eastern Conference Finals. 

The final key to the Celtics ability to knock off the Heat? Paul Pierce NOT fouling out. Fouling out in 2 of the 4 games so far is unacceptable. I know the officiating has been brutal but Pierce has to make some kind of adjustment that will allow him to play the entire game because the Celtics aren't the same team offensively when he's not on the floor due to their lack of punch on the bench. If Pierce can stay in the game and carry the team through tough stretches then the Celtics have a fairly good chance of taking down the mighty Heat. 

Finally, Tim Thomas...

What are you doing Timmy? What's this crap about taking a year off to spend time with your family, friends, and faith? You have one year left on your contract why don't you just stick it out, play through this next season, and then retire off into the sunset? Oh right, that's because the Bruins are planning on shopping you around this summer because you have a $5 million cap hit and the big wigs are ready to hand the starting job to restricted free agent Tuuka Rask. I understand that Tim Thomas has done great things for the Bruins organization but he's a 38 going on 39 year old goaltender who has had some injury problems over the past couple of seasons.

The Bruins would making the shrewd business move by hedging their bets that Thomas won't continue to play at a Vezina Trophy level for the next couple years and extending a young, talented goalie in Tuuka Rask. Thomas would still get a slight majority in a time share with Rask but instead he's decided to put the Bruins organization in quite the awkward situation by announcing, via his bookface page no less, that he plans on sitting out the upcoming season.

The main that I can't seem to wrap my head around is what's Thomas's end game? If he goes ahead and sits out this year he'll come back a year older with a year of rust on his game. At the tender age of 39 no team is going to want to take a long term flyer on him, which is exactly what I think Thomas is pining for here: a long term deal. His best chance at a long term deal is to either play lights out for the Bruins this year or get traded somewhere showcase his talents for a full season somewhere else and get rewarded with a 3 year deal. If the Bruins go ahead and suspend Thomas for the season then he's on their roster again in the 2013-2014 season and he's right back in the same predicament that he is right now except a year older and with a less likely chance of securing another guaranteed year or two in the NHL. He's sabotaging his value to not only the Bruins but to the entire NHL by sitting out this upcoming season if he in fact follows through with it. I mean hey whatever floats your boat Thomas you brought the Bruins a Stanley Cup so I can't complain too much but this whole fiasco does confirm one thing I've always thought about you: you're a class A looney tune.

That's all for tonight folks and remember to tune into game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and Celtics down in Miami tomorrow night. GO CELTICS!

Geoff Jablonski