Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Recording artists Jay-Z (left) and Beyonce in attendance in the first quarter of the 2013 NBA all star game at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public service announcement, sponsored by Fansided.com and the good folks at Saving The Skyhook… ‘Fellow Americans, it is with the utmost pride and sincerity that I present this article, as a living testament and recollection of history in the making during our generation.’”

Those are the lyrics to Jay-Z’s Public Service Announcement with a little variation on my end. You might be wondering why I would begin this post with song lyrics but on a day like today it’s appropriate.

According to a report from ESPN’s Darren Rovell, rapper/entrepreneur Jay-Z will be starting his own sports representation agency. The agency will be known as Roc Nation Sports and Rovell notes that New York Yankees second baseman, Robinson Cano, is first in line to be represented.

Apparently being one of the best rappers of all time, having a share in the Brooklyn Nets franchise, aiding in the production of NBA 2k13, and being married to Beyonce (whom he has a child with) isn’t enough for Mr. Carter. Then again, when you have the kind of money those two do, you have to find something to do with it.

While the first to be represented is a baseball player, it would be almost laughable to assume that guys throughout the NBA won’t want in on this. I’m assuming that the most obvious players to show interest will be his own but it won’t stop there. Jay-Z has formed friendships with numerous players throughout the league (i.e. Lebron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, etc.) and he, without a doubt, has access to 99.9% of all NBA athletes. With that in mind, I’m predicting that within the next one to three years there will be at least one player from each NBA franchise that is affiliated with RNS.

Personally I think it’s great that a world renowned celebrity has become somewhat of a symbol for the NBA. He is responsible for bringing the Nets to Brooklyn and the team has realized success in one of New York’s most popular burrows. As far as Roc Nation Sports is concerned, it’s pretty safe to say that this firm will be highly successful, especially when you consider the interest Cano has on the first day of it’s existence. Jay-Z has taken the NBA by storm and he’s done nothing but positive things for the league. With David Stern stepping down from his role as commissioner in 2014, don’t be surprised if Adam Silver loses his nearly guaranteed inheritance to a man by the name of Sean Carter. But allow me to reintroduce him, his name is Hov.

Feb 28, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

At this point of the season, you have to wonder whether or not Chicago Bulls centerpiece, Derrick Rose, will even return to action this year. Right now, the Bulls find themselves in the 5th spot in the East, sporting a record of 35-28. If they’re not careful though, they could potentially see the Boston Celtics pass them and if the Milwaukee Bucks went on a decent sized run, they might be able to jump over the Bulls as well. The Celtics are only a half game behind them and the Bucks are trailing Chicago by three games. Most likely, the men in green will be able to sprint past the Bulls. As for the Bucks, I can’t really say for sure because it would take a good sized streak and a good number of losses for the Bucks and Bulls respectively. It doesn’t appear as though the Bulls are about to lay down and die, but the Bucks have been sporadic all season long so they may have another winning streak in them.

I had been reading a lot about how great Rose has looked in 5-on-5 drills in practice. In addition, I had been hearing about him dunking with no problem. This was a few weeks ago and when I originally became aware of these stories I thought that he would be back relatively soon. Well, I guess I was wrong to believe such a thing because Rose has still yet to suit up for the Bulls in 2012-13.

As recently as today, ESPN reported that doctors had cleared Rose to play in games. Despite the news, it was also reported that the point guard would not play until he could confidently dunk off his left foot. The problem with that news is that it’s hard to speculate when Rose will return to Chicago’s lineup. Only Rose knows where he’s at with his development. In turn, that leaves us as members of the media or fans of the sport in a helpless situation. All we can do is sit around, keep our eyes and ears open, and wait for the announcement that Rose is making his return.

In all honesty, I’m getting a little bit frustrated with Derrick Rose and I’m sure I’m not the only one. He’s been playing great in practice and he’s dunking again. Not to mention that even before today, doctors had told Rose he could play without any consequences. Physically, Rose is there but it’s the mental aspect that is lagging behind. I understand that’s to be expected because there’s always the thought in the back of your mind that it could happen again. Besides, Rose isn’t know to be the most mentally tough player in the league. If you recall in recent years, Rose almost had a breakdown because he admitted that he wasn’t sure if he could handle the pressure of being a top tier talent on basketball’s biggest stage. I’m not sure if he’s dealing with any private issues but one thing is certain, Derrick Rose is mentally fragile.

Apr 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. The Bulls won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Rose missed a significant amount of time and only appeared in 39 games. The Bulls were still able to play their way to the top seed in the East Conference going into the post season. In 2012-13 Chicago is already 61 games deep and currently sits in 6th in Eastern Conference. While they have been playing good basketball this season, it doesn’t matter whether they get the first or eighth seed in the East because they aren’t going to win a title without Derrick Rose. If he does in fact return this season, he’ll only be able to play in less than 20 regular season games and then the first round of the post season will be here before he knows it. That’s a big “if” though seeing as Rose has stated that he wouldn’t mind missing this whole season. That’s bad news for the fans in Chicago because that means this is just another year of the Bulls being an above average team but not good enough to win a championship.

Like I said before, only Derrick Rose knows where he’s at on his road to recovery. Anything we hear is just “he said, she said,” until we see him in a Bulls uniform. It will definitely be disappointing if Rose decides to call it a year and he makes us wait to see him play until the 2013-14 season. Plus, Adidas might be knocking on his front door asking for the money they gave him for “The Return” commercial.

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Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson

In my opinion, Golden State Warriors’ head coach, Mark Jackson, should be the man to receive Coach of the Year honors. While he isn’t a “landslide candidate,” he has certainly made a case as to why he should be one of the front runners. Jackson enjoyed a very successful 17 year career in the NBA. A career that saw him win Rookie of the Year, receive one All-Star bid, and lead the league in assists in 1997. He was a floor general that truly understood the game in its entirety. If his playing career isn’t proof enough when it comes to deciding whether he knows the game or not, consider his broadcasting stint with ESPN. Whenever you tuned in to an NBA game aired on ESPN, you could fully expect to hear Jackson dissecting both the players and the action. He could explain a sequence of plays to the casual fan in mere minutes.

When I heard that Jackson would be patrolling the sidelines for the Warriors, I was excited to see what he could do at the helm of an organization. In his first year as head coach in Oakland, Jackson’s squad managed to produce a 23-43 record in the lockout shortened season. A poor season to say the least, their dismal record translated to a .348 winning percentage for the season. In turn, the Warriors found themselves in fourth place in the Pacific Division when the season came to a close.

January 21, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson (right) argues with referee Marc Davis (8) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

At this point you’re probably wondering what last season’s numbers have to do with THIS year’s Coach of the Year award. Well, it has a lot to do with it actually. Jackson has taken this cellar dweller team and has turned them into a quiet contender in the Western Conference after just one off season of changes. So far this year, the Warriors have managed to post a 33-23 record through 56 games. In 10 fewer games, Golden State has already surpassed last season’s win total by 10. They have also shaved off 20 games worth of losses from last season’s loss column.

Right now, the Warriors have played well enough to earn themselves a .589 winning percentage which is an exceptional turn around from last year’s .348. If they continue to win at this clip, Jackson’s team is on pace to finish off the year at 48-34. Had last season been a full one, the team would’ve finished with a 28-54 record over 82 games. 20 games up and 20 games down in the win and loss column respectively is an incredible improvement between seasons. 56 games into the 2012-13 campaign, Golden State is sitting somewhat comfortably in the 5th seed spot in the Western Conference. Obviously, barring any major issues, this young team is set to make the playoffs this year, something they couldn’t do in 2011-12.

Mark Jackson is a more than worthy candidate for this year’s Coach of the Year award. As I said before, he turned his club from a losing team into a team that is on its way to the post season. Personally, I love his philosophy: If you play hard and give him 110% on the defensive end, you have the green light on offense. That’s good news for the group of shooters he has in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and rookie Harrison Barnes. However, I have a feeling he’d still let Curry and Thompson launch it from downtown if they were playing mediocre defense. Without those two scoring the heck out of the ball, they may not have won as many games as they have. With all the great work and success Jackson is realizing in Oakland this season, don’t be surprised if his name is etched in the 2012-13 Coach of the Year trophy at the conclusion of the regular season.

Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard

New Orleans Hornets center Anthony Davis hasn’t exactly lived up to all of his hype just yet. Whether he has been injured or just not producing consistently at a high rate, he hasn’t warranted all of the RoY talk. Don’t get me wrong, Davis will be a star in this league for years to come but he won’t be this year’s best rookie. As a matter of fact, that honor will more than likely go to Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard, Damian Lillard.

Perhaps the biggest reason for all of Lillard’s success is the one nobody really talks about. This young man has experience. He played all four years in college and that allowed him to develop into the player he is today. All of his time at Weber State gave him a quiet advantage over a lot of the guys that entered the draft alongside of him. The Blazers took Lillard with the 6th overall pick and not a single guy picked ahead of him was a four year college player. Thomas Robinson was the 5th overall pick and he played at Kansas University up until his junior year. Each selection before Lillard and Robinson were either freshmen or sophomores.

Feb 27, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Lillard’s extra time at school has been a major factor in how he has translated his game from the NCAA to the pros so seamlessly. According to NBA.com, Lillard is the first player in NBA history to score 900 points and hit 100 plus 3-pointers in his first 50 career games. Not only that, he became the first player since Lebron James to accumulate 1000 points and 300 assists in his first 55 games. Anytime you find yourself in the same company as Lebron, you know you’re doing something right. How many rookies can say that they’ve done what Lillard has done this year? Absolutely zero.

Through 60 games, the rookie has posted 18.6 points per game on 42% from the field and 35% from distance. Perhaps what’s the most impressive about his offense is that he is the only rookie in the league averaging over 15 a game. In addition to his scoring numbers, he dishes out a little more than 6 assists per game while handing the ball over to the opposition 2.97 times per contest. Those two figures translate to a 2.14 assist to turnover ratio which is an exceptional number for a rookie point guard.

Watching Lillard play is a real treat. If you had never heard of him and saw him play, you’d figure he was a 4 year player. He knows exactly what he’s doing out there on the court and shows a maturity beyond his years. He hardly forces the issue on offense and understands when he has the shot. I noticed that he isn’t bashful when it comes to shooting the ball. Lillard has a lot of confidence in his jumpshot and he should. A quick release makes it hard to defend and it falls at a relatively good clip. Damian Lillard is a special player and the only reason why he “fell” to 6th overall in the draft is because New Orleans, Washington, Charlotte, Cleveland, and Sacramento all have their point guards for the future. We should all fully expect to see this kid in numerous All-Star games and he’s going to end up doing great things in Oregon. Lillard will win Rookie of the Year by a landslide.

Sixth Man of the Year: J.R. Smith

Choosing the winner of the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year award was the most difficult to choose. The decision ultimately came down to either Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers or Smith, a two-guard for the New York Knicks.

If you were to compare the current season’s stats of the veteran shooting guards, you’d notice that Smith has the edge in most of the major statistical categories. However, I will admit that Crawford is a much more efficient scorer as his percentages prove. If you look at the player as a whole though, Smith brings more production to the floor. Smith has a stat line of 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.3 BPG. Crawford owns a stat line of 17.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.1 BPG. As you can see, Smith gives the Knicks more overall production than Crawford gives to Lob City. Crawford has never been known for much more than his scoring and ball handling throughout his career. He is an extremely talented player and I would take him on my team any day, unless I could choose Smith.

Mar. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith (8) looks to dribble the ball around Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Reggie Jackson (15) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Thunder won 95-94. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

After watching J.R. Smith play during most of his career, his averages honestly tell the story of his game. Smith is a stat sheet stuffer and he’s going to give you 110% night in and night out (Mark Jackson would love him). There aren’t all that many shooting guards that pull down almost 5 and a half rebounds per game but I’ve realized that seeing this guy collect double digit rebounds in a game isn’t all that foreign. As recently as March 3rd, Smith corralled 12 rebounds in a game against the Miami Heat. Miami doesn’t have a true inside presence but its also not easy to rebound the ball with a guy like Lebron James trying to pull it away from you.

Overall, Smith can offer more to a team than Crawford can. I’ve seen J.R. play anywhere from point guard to small forward. He is unbelievably athletic and quick enough to guard the smallest guards but he’s also tough enough to guard bigger small forwards. Not only that, he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty underneath the basket after the shot goes up. His quickness also helps him stay in front of the ball handler and get into the passing lanes for easy steals and fast break points. These are all things you’re not going to see from Jamal Crawford on a nightly basis. Both guys can go off for 30 points one night but only one of them can grab 10 rebounds and register 3-4 steals the next. It will be close between these two, numbers don’t lie though. That is why J.R. Smith will be this season’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Most Improved Player: Greivis Vasquez

I can honestly say that Greivis Vasquez has shocked me with how well he’s been playing this season. He came out of nowhere and he’s starting to show what he can be in this league. Between him and Anthony Davis, the New Orleans faithful have a lot to be excited about in the future. Through 62 games this season, the Maryland product is doing things that nobody could have predicted prior to the season.

First and foremost, Vasquez is averaging 9.4 assists per game which is good enough for 3rd best in the league. He’s in pretty good company as the two men in front of him are Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo. How far is he from the number one spot though? Essentially, it’s him and Chris Paul dueling for the assist crown since Rondo tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season as we all know. Technically you could say Chris Paul is in first with 9.5 and Vasquez is second with 9.4. I’m completely ok with putting it that way and that’s coming from a Celtics fan. Anyways, you did read those numbers correctly. Greivis Vasquez, of all players, is trailing the best in the business by a tenth of an assist a night. Pretty impressive for a guy who only averaged 5.4 dimes per contest last season.

Mar 4, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) and New Orleans Hornets forward Ryan Anderson (33) in action against the Orlando Magic during the game at New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tyler Kaufman-USA TODAY Sports

Assists aren’t the only category he has improved in however, as he is averaging career highs in minutes per game, 3-point%, rebounds per game, and points per game. A lot of people argue that all of his career highs are just a product of getting about 9 more minutes per game and that’s a reasonable argument to make. What they fail to realize is that if he’s playing more then he must be taking more threes in each game, right? So if he is taking more threes and he has a higher percentage than last year, he must have improved his jumper. Also, in 9 more minutes his assist average has increased by 4 while his turnover average has increased by less than 1. As a result, he has a better assist to turnover ratio than last year and he’s distributing the ball more effectively. That argument I mentioned before suddenly doesn’t seem so legitimate.

Greivis Vasquez has the potential to be a top 10 point guard in this league and that’s only if he isn’t already. In no way am I suggesting that he is better than the players I am about to mention, but as a point guard’s job is to pass and set up their teammates, it’s certainly interesting. Vasquez is averaging more APG than top tier point guards like Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Kyrie Irving, etc. Granted they all do a lot more scoring than Vasquez does but hopefully you can see my point. I’m old fashion in a sense that I think the amount of assists point guards can rack up is more valuable than the points they can put on the board. I know that isn’t how the game is played today but that’s my opinion. Bottom line: unless a guy like Kenneth Faried or Earl Clark swoops in for the MIP, it’s Vasquez’s to lose.

Defensive Player of the Year: LARRY SANDERS!!!

I have to give it to him, Larry Sanders is having a heck of a year. Whether its been rebounding the ball or blocking shots, the man has been a force to be reckoned with. Essentially, my Defensive Player of the Year candidates boil down to just four players. Those players are Larry Sanders, Serge Ibaka, Dwight Howard, and my sleeper pick, Avery Bradley. Bradley isn’t likely to win it because I feel like anyone who isn’t a Celtics fan doesn’t really know just how disruptive he is on defense. I believe that he is the best on ball defender in the league but there isn’t a great number of people who think that outside of Celtics Nation.

Dwight Howard is almost laughable at this point because he has been a shell of himself the whole season. I understand that he’s been recovering from back surgery and other nagging injuries but the voters for the award aren’t going to wait for you Dwight. He is still fifth in the league in blocks per game with 2.3 but I feel like every time I watch him play, he isn’t the scary post presence he was in prior years. He’s been biting on the simplest of shot fakes and some guys aren’t as hesitant to take it to the rack when he’s in the vicinity of the paint. That was the biggest aspect of Howard’s defensive game. He was a great shot blocker but he was also a great shot alterer. Altering a players shot and giving them a worse look at the basket can be just as effective as sending their shot into the fourth row.

Feb 26, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (8) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Bucks defeated the Mavericks 95-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t see Ibaka winning the award only because he has seemed to developed offensively to make himself a more complete player. There’s nothing wrong with that, it brings another valuable dimension to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s already potent offense. Unfortunately the award isn’t for the guy who makes their teams offense even better, it’s for the best defensive player in the league.

The man who more than deserves this accolade is Larry Sanders. Sanders is leading the league in blocks per game with a ridiculous 3.2, good enough for 3 tenths of a block more than Ibaka at 2.9. Sanders has been the defensive anchor the Milwaukee Bucks needed since their two best players are 100% offensive minded. The center out of Virginia Commonwealth has turned himself into an intimidating post presence on the defensive end. His improvement has been drastic too because at this point it isn’t exactly a huge shock when he sends back 5, 6, 7 shots in a single game. It’s more of a “shake your head and smile” kind of surprise. For good measure Sanders has been kind enough to record about a steal each game. I know, it’s not spectacular but the amount of blocks he records makes up for it. With a struggling Howard, static Ibaka, and under appreciated Bradley, look for LARRY SANDERS to take home Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James

If you scrolled down and skipped everything else just to see who I picked to win MVP, shame on you. You all know who I’m picking, as much as I might not want to choose him, I’m not naive enough to actually pass him by. There are a few other candidates hoping to get their hands on an MVP trophy such as Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony. Unless there is a massive case of “voters fatigue,” it’s not going to be this year for anyone not named Lebron James.

As of right now, James is averaging 27.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.2 assists per game. The dude is nearly a walking triple-double which is just stupid in a good sense of the term. His 8.1 boards per game are a career high as are his 56 and 40% clips from the field and behind the arc respectively. As if Lebron wasn’t already good enough, he’s becoming a much more efficient shooter and his 3-point stroke is much improved.

Mar 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) looks at the scoreboard in the game against the Orlando Magic during the second half at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Magic 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Lebron, as we all know, has the ability to play every position on the floor. He runs the point and distributes the ball in a way that’s reminiscent of Magic Johnson. He has mastered the art of the no-look pass and can deliver the ball to his teammates with pinpoint accuracy. James also has an above average post game that is only getting better as he’s getting more confident in post-up situations. I guess that’s the result of working out with Hakeem Olajuwon who is known as one of the best offensive big men on the low block. There is no doubt in my mind that Lebron is working as hard as he can every single day to become the best basketball player he can possibly be.

Back to his efficiency, how does a +32.24 PER sound? To put it into perspective, the league average PER is +15.00. A big part of his efficiency comes from his assist to turnover ratio which is around a 4 and also from his sky high field goal percentages. A streak of 6 games with 30 points on at least 60% shooting will help you bump those numbers up too. Basically, what I’m trying to get at is that Lebron James is on a whole different level than everybody else in the league. Kevin Durant is close and you can never count out Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul is the best point guard and Carmelo puts his team on his back night in and night out. It’s never going to be enough as long as James is on the floor. No disrespect to Derrick Rose, but Lebron should probably be a 4-time league MVP and if he keeps it up at this rate, he could win the next 5 MVP awards. The man is scary good and unless you can find a player with the same freakishly strong, athletic body and similar skill set, Lebron will be at the summit of the Association just laughing at anyone trying to come for his crown. As much as I hate seeing him go to work against my Celtics, it’s a privilege to watch someone as good as him play the game. He may never be better than Jordan when it’s all said and done but that doesn’t mean he won’t leave us with our jaws hanging open every single night he suits up. At this point of the season, King James is your 2012-13 MVP.

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Shavlik Randolph

Earlier this morning, CSN’s Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely broke the news:

#Celticstalk: The #Celtics have signed Shavlik Randolph to a 10-day contract.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) March 1, 2013

Randolph played his college ball at Duke and in 2005 he declared for the NBA Draft and went undrafted. However, the Philadelphia 76ers gave him a shot by inviting him to training camp, where he played well enough to earn a roster spot. Unfortunately, after spending three years in Philly he became somewhat of a journeyman as he bounced between three teams in the next two seasons. By 2010 he found himself out of the Association and decided to take his talents overseas. Most recently, over the course of the 2012-13 Chinese Basketball Association’s campaign, he averaged an absurd 32.0 PPG and 14.6 RPG. I bet you’re thinking he did it over just a few games and got lucky in one of those contests. That’s just simply not the case, because Randolph was able to maintain these numbers through 28 games.

July 17, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Wizards player Shavlik Randolph (32) takes a free throw during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

What to Expect

Shavlik Randolph will not average 32 and 14 in the NBA, I’m just getting that out of the way now. However, if given an adequate amount of minutes, I fully expect him to grab around 5-6 rebounds a game. As for his role offensively, he will probably be lucky if he averages about 4 per outing. He is definitely a capable player on the offensive end but the Celtics didn’t sign him to score the ball. Currently, Boston is ranked 29th in the NBA in rebounds per game as a unit. Enter Randolph, now the team has a 6’10, 236 pound body to throw his weight around down in the trenches.

As a member of the NBA, Randolph has posted averages of 2.4 PPG and 2.4 RPG in just a little over 8 MPG. In an odd way, I’m kind of glad that’s the case. With such low career averages, he will be free to play with practically no expectations at all. While no doubt he will be nervous playing through this 10-day contract, I think he can breathe a little easier than most due to the fact that the Celtics faithful won’t know much about him. If he under performs you’ll hear fans saying, “Well what did you expect,” and if he plays to the potential I know he has you’ll be listening to more of, “Wow, solid pickup for the C’s.” Over the next 10-days the Celtics will take on the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. There will be plenty of opportunity for Randolph to showcase his skills so keep an eye out for the big guy, he’ll be wearing number 42.

D.J. White

Two days ago, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports announced that the Celtics would be signing D.J. White:

After forward D.J. White’s letter of clearance finally arrived from China, he’ll sign with Celtics in next 24 hours, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 27, 2013

D.J. White was selected 29th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He is only one year removed from the NBA as he played for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. For the majority of this year’s campaign, White found himself suiting up for the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA. Like Randolph, White also dominated in China this season posting per game averages of 21 and 10.

March 7, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward DJ White (8) drives to the basket while playing against the Los Angeles Clippers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

What to Expect

White is a bruising 6’9, 250 pound forward who was also brought on to help on the boards. For his career, he averages 16.2 MPG and produces about 6 points and 3 rebounds in that time. Although he sports a 50% FG for his career, don’t look for him to light up the score board. While it is refreshing that he can score rather efficiently, his focus will be on defense and rebounding the basketball. Unlike Randolph, I expect White to come out with a good amount of confidence. He’s played against and alongside the best the league has to offer. With that said, he should fit in somewhat seamlessly as he already knows what to expect from most players. Most importantly, though, White is going to bring more toughness to the floor. Earlier this season, Doc Rivers had accused his team of being soft. Since then they have gotten tougher and have been more aggressive but there is still room for improvement. When Sullinger went down I started seeing players boxing out for rebounds even less. Sully was really the only one who would drive his man out of the way to get the rebound. D.J. White will take the floor and look to put a body on somebody right away.

Terrence Williams

What started out as a 10-day contract turned into a full-time gig:

Celtics will sign Terrence Williams for rest of season and conditionally for 2013-’14, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 1, 2013

When Terrence Williams signed his 10-day contract with the Celtics, I saw it as a perfect opportunity for him. The Celtics needed some help at the guard position and Williams has proved to be a good fit so far in Boston. In fact, he finds himself playing alongside former teammate, Courtney Lee, and Seattle area natives, Avery Bradley and Jason Terry. I don’t think that Williams could have dreamed up a better situation for himself. If his option for next year is picked up, I am seriously interested in seeing what he will do alongside Rajon Rondo. Williams is extremely athletic and has the ability to throw it down with the best of them.

What to Expect

Williams is averaging 4.3 points and 2 assists per game so far in his short stint with the Celtics. Although the numbers might be low, he’s only been logging around 14 minutes per game. As the year goes on and he gets more practice time under his belt, his minutes will increase. Williams has surprised me with his passing skills thus far and I have a feeling he will be able to get his assist numbers to about 5 a game by season’s end. He makes the correct passes at the correct times and he hardly forces the issue.

Not only can he move the ball around effectively, he has a consistent jump shot. A small sample size of 46% and 50% from the field and behind the arc, respectively, suggests that he’s more than capable of scoring the basketball. Realistically, I think he can probably up his scoring average to around 8 PPG before the season is over. His focus right now is to be a facilitator so he won’t be doing a large amount of scoring. However, if he sticks around next year, I think he has the potential to score anywhere between 12-14 points per game with Rondo setting him up. The C’s were very fortunate to sign Williams at this point in the season. As long as he continues to be a dynamic offensive player the Celtics will be more than happy to have him.

The night I heard that Terrence Williams would be joining the Celtics, I decided to ask him how he felt about the whole situation. He told me that he hadn’t been to sleep since he received the call.

“@timmaclean_sts: @therealtwill How’d you feel when you got the call from the C’s?” Haven’t been to sleep since lol

— Terrence Williams (@TheRealTWill) February 20, 2013

I’m glad that Williams is proud to be a member of my Celtics and I’m looking forward to watching him get better each day under Doc Rivers’ tutelage. The only thing I have to say to TWill is that I hope he’s been able to get some rest, because we’re gonna need him at his best for the rest of the season.

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Feb 24, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots in the fourth quarter against Dallas Mavericks forward Elton brand (42) at the American Airlines Center. The Lakers beat the Mavs 103-99. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the history of the National Basketball Association, very few players have earned the luxury of being recognized simply by their first name. You have guys like Michael, Larry, Magic, and Kareem. If those names are brought up during a basketball themed conversation, one is expected to know exactly who is being referred to. I purposefully left the fifth name out due to the fact that he is still an active NBA player. If you’re sitting there asking yourself, “Who is he talking about?,” then you need to reassess yourself as a basketball fan. The fifth name belongs to surefire Hall of Famer and 5-time NBA champion, Kobe Bryant.

Kobe has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether it was kids at school yelling, “Kobe,” as they shot a ball of paper into the trash can or Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers beating my Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals, (we got him in 2008 though, just a reminder…). I can also admit that I even incorporated Kobe’s grip on the basketball when he shoots the ball into my own shot. Bottom line is, even though he plays for my Celtics’ biggest rival, I have the utmost respect for him and I’m not so naive to believe he isn’t one of the greatest to ever do it.

Yesterday, February 24th, Kobe became just the fifth player in NBA history to surpass the 31,000 point mark for their career. He’s done so over a 16 and a half year career where he has posted averages of 25.5 PPG on 45% from the field, 34% from beyond the arc, and 84% from the charity stripe. A career that has seen him fail to hit the 1,000 point mark in a single season just twice. In Kobe’s defense, one of those two seasons was his rookie year and the other he fell short by just 4 points. No worries though, he has made up for those two sub-1,000 point seasons by surpassing the 2,000 point mark 7 times throughout his years in the Association.

At the ripe age of 34, nobody really knows for sure when Kobe will step away from the game. He has one year remaining on his current contract that sees him through to the end of next season. A large amount of fans believe that it’s more than likely he will announce his retirement when the 2013-14 campaign comes to a close. However, despite that being a sensible time to hang it up, Kobe will only be 35 at that point. I understand that he has virtually played the last 5-plus at less than 100% when it comes to his health but that hasn’t stopped him from remaining at the top of the NBA ladder. Another factor to consider is whether or not the Lakers would be willing to resign him, even if it were just for a year or so. Although I personally believe that it’s ridiculous to even think about the possibility of the Lakers’ brass turning Kobe away, there are people out there that believe it could happen. If the Lakers chose not to resign him, then that would probably be the final straw because I can’t even imagine Bryant putting on a different uniform. This tweet is focused on the loss of Dr. Jerry Buss, but also pay attention to his first statement, “It’s an honor to put the Golden Armor on everyday.”

Its an honor to put on the Golden Armor every day. Laker fan or not, respect all that Dr B’s vision has done for sports #immortal

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 22, 2013

That being said, I don’t think that even Kobe could imagine taking the floor in any color other than purple and gold. Finally, I remember Kobe saying, “I will keep playing in the NBA as long as I continue to dominate.” This speaks to his competitive nature and the want and desire to perform at a very high level. On Ahmad Rashad’s one on one interview with Michael Jordan, Michael was quoted as saying, “He’s [Kobe] cursed just like me.” The curse obviously being the love and passion that both have for the game of basketball. Oh yeah, and Kobe? I have news for you man, you are dominating right now and I see no signs of you slowing down just yet.

Retirement concerns aside, I’ve been pondering something that warrants the same amount of thought. Can Kobe Bryant overthrow the throne that is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s All-Time Scoring record? I’ve decided to look into it and figure out what it would take for Kobe to achieve such an immaculate accomplishment. As of February 25th, the All-Time Scoring list looks like this:

November 16, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former pro basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar attends a ceremony unveiling the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar statue at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387
2. Karl Malone: 36,928
3. Michael Jordan: 32,292
4. Wilt Chamberlain: 31,419
5. Kobe Bryant: 31,027

There is no doubt in my mind that Kobe will pass Chamberlain by the end of this season and, barring any injuries, will pass Jordan for third all-time before his contract is up at next season’s end. Those are the near guarantees, but what about going after Malone and Abdul-Jabbar? If Bryant were to try to break the record, he would have to continue to play obviously. What if the Lakers weren’t willing to resign him? Would he play for another franchise to try to get the record? Who knows?

Let’s assume that Kobe resigned with a team, whether it be the Lakers of another franchise, what would it take for Bryant to become the All-time leading scorer? Currently, Kobe is trailing KAJ by 7,360 points. After crunching a few numbers, the most realistic way for Kobe to go after the record would be to do it over the next four seasons. That would break down those 7,360 points into 1,840 points per season. Assuming Kobe were to play 75 games each year, he would have to average 24.5 PPG for the next four seasons if he wants to break the record. That would make him 39 years old when it was all said and done. Now that seems like a bit much but it’s completely doable for a player of Kobe Bryant’s caliber. As I said before, Kobe is showing no signs of slowing down and I can imagine he would average more than 24 PPG over the next couple of seasons. If that’s the case, then he would have a lighter work load going into his last one or two years. As age hits him it will effect his ability to get to the rim and finish at the basket. However, there are three things that Kobe will never lose: his footwork, his jump shot, and his motivation to be the best.

These numbers aren’t set in stone, it is just a plan of attack to get to the top of the list. I have all the faith in the world that Kobe will score more than 2,000 points next year. I also believe that he has the ability to play more than 75 games in the next couple of seasons. In essence, he might not need four more years, it could take him three. There is no way to be certain but I sincerely believe that Kobe Bryant has a legitimate shot at passing KAJ. As of right now, there are only two active players in the NBA that have good chances at topping the list. Kobe Bryant is the first and the second is Kevin Durant.

Kobe Bean Bryant has had the type of career little kids dream about as they grow up. He is nothing short of amazing to watch and if you’re a student of the game, you have to watch Kobe play. I hold him very highly and I know that he will go down as one of the greatest players to ever step foot on an NBA court. This may or may not come to a shock to my readers, but I also truly believe that he is the closest thing to Michael Jordan that we will ever see. Enough of this Lebron/MJ comparison because that’s not even close. Michael has him by a long shot and they’re two different kinds of players. You want someone to compare LBJ to? Ok, Magic Johnson is your guy. When we’re talking about the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant is the only player who should be compared to him.

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Thomas Robinson

Last night the Sacramento Kings decided to send the fifth overall pick of the 2012 NBA draft to the Houston Rockets. In return, the Kings brought Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas out to California’s capital, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

The Rockets will send Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas to the Kings for Thomas Robinson, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Feb 19, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings power forward Thomas Robinson (0) drives in against San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw (33) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In my opinion, this trade works out pretty well for both teams. The Kings brought in some more depth at both the center and guard position with the acquisitions of Aldrich and Douglas. In addition to that, the Kings may have found a way to make Demarcus Cousins a little happier for the time being. Cousins and Patterson played together at the University of Kentucky. Look for those two to work well together in the post and increase the very low level of chemistry this team has. On the other side of the deal, the Rockets not only add a little more cap space to play around with in free agency but they also get the hard working Thomas Robinson who has plenty of upside. Robinson is a tough guy both mentally and physically. Although this is true, I don’t believe Sacramento is a good place to grow and develop as a rookie. I don’t care who you are, the Kings don’t have any veteran leadership and as I mentioned before, have very little chemistry. I fully expect to see Robinson increase his productivity in a Rockets uniform. He will get regular minutes with the loss of both Patterson and Marcus Morris, (more on Morris later).

Marcus Morris

As I mentioned above, Thomas Robinson wasn’t the only Kansas product to be traded prior to the deadline. The Houston Rockets sent Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns for a second round pick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Houston Rockets have traded Marcus Morris to the Phoenix Suns for a future second-round draft pick, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

Mar 20, 2011; Tulsa, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forwards Marcus Morris (22) and Markieff Morris (21) during a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men

This is another trade that I approve of. The Rockets again give themselves a little more cap room and they also get the second round pick to either use or trade after the season. The Suns get a slight edge as winners in the deal though because they managed to complete the Morris twin puzzle. If you followed college basketball at all when these two were at Kansas, you know how well they play together. They know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are and where and when they’ll be at a specific spot on the floor. What else do you expect? They’re are twins after all. In their last season in Kansas, Markieff lead the team with 8.3 RPG while Marcus was second with 7.6. In addition, Markieff and Marucs averaged 13.6 and 17.2 PPG respectively. Marcus’ 17.2 were good for best on the team. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Morris’ take the floor together in Phoenix. If their time together in college is any indication of how they’ll play together in the NBA, then the Suns have something to be excited about.

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Josh Smith

Feb 11, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) dunks against Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (0) at the American Airlines Center. The Hawks beat the Mavs 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Smith being traded is probably the most inevitable move that will be made in the next few days. The question is though, where is he going to end up? According to HoopsRumors.com, several teams have shown interest in acquiring Smith’s services. Teams like the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards are reported to have been in contact with Atlanta Hawks GM, Danny Ferry.

ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted that if the Hawks were to make a deal with the Bucks, Atlanta would want to receive Monta Ellis in return. Atlanta believes that Ellis would be a great compliment to Jeff Teague. The Hawks are confident in Teague and apparently plan to move forward with him.

On Bucks/Josh Smith talk: Hawks’ interest believed to start w/Monta Ellis, since Monta could play next to Jeff Teague, whom Hawks still like

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 19, 2013

The Phoenix Suns have also been rumored to be strong suitors for Josh Smith. However, reports are that both teams are concerned that Smith may not be willing to resign with the Suns after he becomes a free agent at season’s end. If a deal were to get done, I can almost guarantee that Marcin Gortat would be involved due to the fact that the Hawks are looking to bring in a center in exchange for Smith. Bringing in Gortat would allow the Hawks to move Al Horford back to his natural power forward position. Perhaps out of desperation, the Washington Wizards have let Atlanta know that everyone on their team is available with the exception of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Nene Hilario.

In talks with ATL for Josh Smith, Wizards have said all but 3 players available: J Wall, B Beal & Nene — Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

  I don’t believe that there is a great chance for the Wizards to grab Smith unless Emeka Okafor was sent to Atlanta. Again, Okafor would allow the Hawks to satisfy their desire to move Horford to the power forward. Finally, what has emerged as the most probable destination for Smith has been reported by ESPN’s Marc Stein. The Brooklyn Nets are predicted to land Smith in a three team deal, says one unknown team close to the situation. Although this has been reported, I’m not so sure who the Nets would include in the group they would end up exporting. Kris Humphries isn’t exactly a valued commodity in the NBA right now, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Nets trying for Josh Smith but ATL has no interest in offers w/Kris Humphries. Neither do many teams they’re trying to involve for 3-way — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 19, 2013

JJ Redick

JJ Redick might be rumored to be on the move less than Josh Smith is but nonetheless, Redick has been talked about. The Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and most recently, the New York Knicks have all showed interest in the sharp shooter.

The Magic and Knicks have discussed a J.J. Redick for Iman Shumpert trade. Other players (and maybe a third team) would have to be involved.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 19, 2013

Feb 8, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks point guard Iman Shumpert (21) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

A deal of this nature really makes sense to me. Redick would fit right in with a Knicks team that absolutely loves to hoist up 3′s. The veteran two guard will also contribute to the Knicks’ “win-now” mentality. Redick has experienced the playoffs a few times, including a 2009 NBA Finals appearance with the Orlando Magic. On the other side of the coin, Iman Shumpert would be a great addition to the Magic. He’s a young, athletic player with plenty of potential that can help this team through the rebuilding process. Not that Shumpert is going to be the next Messiah in Orlando, but he’ll surely be apart of their future plans.

As you see above, Alex Kennedy of Hoops World reports that there would need to be other players or teams involved for this deal to get done. Said players/teams are unknown but when it comes down to it, if these two teams are serious about this, they will find a facilitator to get it done by Thursday. One thing to keep in mind though is that GM Rob Hennigan has told Redick that the team is open to resigning him when he hits free agency this summer, according to reports from Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Other Murmurs

• The Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Mike D’Antoni wants to make a move to acquire guard, Raja Bell. D’Antoni coached Bell in early Phoenix days.

Mike D’Antoni has remained intrigued with bringing exiled Jazz guard Raja Bell to Lakers, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• The Portland Trailblazers are still open to move JJ Hickson but apparently haven’t been blown away by any offers they may have gotten from teams around the league. Portland still willing to move J.J. Hickson, but hasn’t found an appealing offer yet, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2013

• Eric Maynor and Sebastian Telfair of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns respectively, are available.

OKC aggressively shopping PG Eric Maynor. Asking price is high. Phoenix looking to move Sebastian Telfair to clear PT for Kendall Marshall.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

Oct 13, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Terrence Williams (9) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Beno Udrih (19) at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

About an hour ago, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reported that the Boston Celtics had signed swingman Terrence Williams.

Terrence Williams signing is a done deal according to #celtics source

— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) February 18, 2013

Williams agreed to a 10-day contract in which he can face a couple of different situations. When the contract runs out, the team can choose to sign him full-time or to another 10-day contract. If he serves two 10-day contracts, the Celtics can choose to sign him full-time or release him. If they decided to release him, Danny Ainge would still have the opportunity to sign him full-time at any point throughout this season.

The Louisville product was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. The New Jersey Nets selected him and he spent two seasons in New Jersey before moving on to Houston where he would suit up for the Rockets. Williams only appeared in 23 games for the Rockets in his combined two years playing there. His most recent stint in the NBA was during the 2011-12 campaign where he would find himself competing in just 18 contests for the Sacramento Kings.

Terrence Williams has managed to average just 7.6 PPG, while shooting 40% and 32% from the field and beyond the arc respectively. However, in the 29 games he appeared in for the Guangdong Southern Tigers (Chinese Basketball Association) this year, he averaged 17.9 PPG.

Although Williams hasn’t lived up to expectations since being drafted, the potential is still there. He has the ability to be a good short term stop gap for the Boston Celtics. After being invited to the Detroit Pistons camp prior to this season, he was cut. I think that Williams will take this opportunity he’s getting from the C’s and make the most out of it. He will have plenty of chances to show what he’s got to the Celtics’ brass as the guys in green are starting a long road trip on Tuesday. Look for Williams to be signed throughout the remainder of the season after he plays out his 10-day contract. He has great athletic ability and he knows how to score the basketball. As a Celtics fan, I am really excited to see what he can do for Boston.

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A report from Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski states that Gordon and head coach Mike Dunlap got into it during the team’s morning shootaround prior to the game against the Boston Celtics. Dunlap had his squad huddled around for a chat and as he was speaking, Gordon was continuously bouncing a basketball. When Dunlap asked his player to stop dribbling while he spoke, Gordon refused to. At that point, Dunlap asked for Ben to give him the ball. This prompted Gordon to tell his coach that he needed to “humble himself,” and he tossed the ball over towards a ball rack.

Feb 6, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Charlotte Bobcats head coach Mike Dunlap reacts in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

It was also reported that Bobcats GM Rod Higgins was in attendance for the shootaround and he was the one who took action and intervened. Charlotte’s Front Office decided not to suspend Gordon because they believed that it would diminish his trade value going into the deadline.

Wojnarowski reports that a league source stated that the situation was, “beyond disrespectful.”

In 22 minutes per game, Ben Gordon is currently averaging 12.6 PPG while shooting about 41% from beyond the arc. The 22 MPG are well below his career average of 29 per game which is the direct cause of why his 12.6 PPG are almost 4 less than his career average of 16.2.

Ever since his days in Chicago, Gordon hasn’t been the same player he once was. In 5 seasons with the Bulls he never averaged less than 15 PPG. Over his last 3 and a half years, his highest points per game average was 13.8, which he achieved throughout the 2009-10 campaign as a Detroit Piston.

Whether he has been misused or hasn’t developed chemistry with teammates since leaving Chicago can’t be said for sure. However, it’s clear that after four years of mediocre play on bad teams, Gordon’s patience has run out. Within the next few days, the man out of UCONN might get his wish. Rumors have come up that the Bobcats and Brooklyn Nets have been talking a Ben Gordon/Kris Humphries swap, per TNT’s David Aldridge.

Ben Gordon-Kris Humphries deal has been discussed by Brooklyn/Charlotte, but is a back burner possibility for now.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) February 8, 2013

Although Aldridge mentions it’s a back burner possibility, this was reported before the incident. Since the incident occured this past Monday, it could be a huge sign for the Front Office that they need to get Gordon out of Charlotte.

Stay tuned and keep checking in with us at Savingtheskyhook.com. We’ll keep you up to date with any more information we get on this situation as well as more trade rumors as we hear about them.

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Feb 13, 2013; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center forward Kevin Garnett (5) during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

“This is definitely my last All Star Game.” The words no true basketball fan ever wanted to hear but, at the same time, knew were inevitable. These are the words of Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest to ever play the game.

After tonight’s win over the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics big man spoke with reporters per usual. In a small back and forth with one reporter, KG was asked if this year’s All Star Game would be his last. After confirming that it would be, Garnett was asked why he thought that if he still had two years remaining on his contract with the team. “Ya’ll don’t know what I know,” he said in a matter of fact fashion.

Since hearing those comments, I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that this will most likely be Garnett’s last year playing professional basketball. However, I can’t say that this is the first time I’ve had these thoughts throughout the course of the 2012-13 NBA campaign. Actually, the first time the notion came to mind was when Rajon Rondo was told that he would be out for the remainder of the season due to an ACL tear. Without their star point guard, the Celtics looked like they would be in some serious trouble. You can’t simply replace what Rondo brings to the team. He may not be the best scorer in the league, but in my opinion, he is the best passer. Rondo has mastered the art of creating for his teammates and using any means necessary to get the ball to the open man. Without him, who would the Celtics hand the reigns to as the facilitator of their offense? Most importantly, Rondo is one of just three players who played for the 2008 championship squad. The other two obviously being Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. In saying that, I mean that he’s been there before and he knows what it takes to have playoff success. I heard about the injury and thought about it for a while. Maybe playing point guard by committee wouldn’t be SO bad. I decided to see how the C’s would fare without him. It’s not like things could get any worse, right?

Wrong. The next game on the schedule had the Celtics slated to take on the Miami Heat at the TD Garden. Just a few minutes into play, rookie Jared Sullinger hobbled off the court and directly into the locker room. The initial report was that he was having “back spasms.” Although that was true, when he was further examined, doctors told him that he would need to have surgery to repair a herniated disk. This injury was no stranger to Sullinger, who had seen his draft stock negatively effected because of his poor back history. To throw salt in the gaping wound caused by the Rondo injury, Sullinger was also told that he would miss the rest of the season as well.

Feb 10, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

In just a matter of days, the Celtics lost both their floor general, who just happened to be leading the league in assists with 11.1, and their second leading rebounder in Sullinger who was averaging roughly 6 boards per game. The men in green found themselves in a very tough position.

Wait a minute though, the Celtics went on to knock off the Heat in a game that required extra sessions, making them 1-0 as a Rondo-less group. It would turn out that the win would give them a pretty good deal of confidence. The team ripped off six straight wins following that contest putting them at 7-0 without Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger. At this point, fans and analysts alike were starting to wonder if the Celtics were actually a better team without Rondo. I hate to break it to you though, that’s just simply not the case. When you put on a Celtics uniform, you’re expected to buy into the brotherhood and feel the pride that had run through players before them for decades. The team came together and decided that they would fight as hard as they could for their guys that couldn’t be out there with them.

Next up on the docket: the lowly Charlotte Bobcats. Boston was visibly tired and the Bobcats were running them out of the gym in transition but the game remained close. Then, after hiding for about a week and a half, the injury bug decided to make an appearance. Combo guard Leandro Barbosa caught the ball in the post, pivoted, and dished the ball back out to the top of the key. Following the pass, Barbosa fell to the floor grabbing his knee. He would have to be carried off the court to the locker room where he couldn’t put even the slightest bit of weight on it. It was reported the next morning that the veteran had torn his ACL and suffered damage to his MCL, and would be out for the season. This is when I really started thinking about KG’s future.

With all this said, at 36 years old, Kevin Garnett doesn’t have time to be messing around waiting for his teammates to get healthy again. He also doesn’t have time playing for a team that can’t give him a great chance to make a run at the title. Historically, the Celtics have been known for making a run after the All Star break, as we saw last year year when the team came within one game of the NBA Finals after they had headed into the break under .500. Unfortunately, I see the team making the playoffs but I can’t imagine them making a lot of noise in the post season. The problem is that the Celtics don’t have any interesting trade chips which means they’ll probably have to fill roster spots via free agency. I don’t see anybody in the free agency pool that can come in right away and get this team over the hump. With teams like the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and the Indiana Pacers also competing in the Eastern Conference, I don’t think the Celtics can roll through all of those teams on the way to an NBA Finals. On the off chance they did make the Finals, the chances of them taking down an opponent like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, or Los Angeles Clippers are slim to none. They just don’t have the pieces or the youth to get such a tall task done.

As we all know, KG won’t leave the Celtics through a trade. First of all, he’s too loyal and he would never leave the squad in their helpless state. Garnett has also said on multiple occasions that he won’t play for anybody but Doc Rivers for the rest of his career. Perhaps the most convincing reason why he won’t be traded is because he has the benefit of the oh so rare no-trade clause on his side. He is currently one of four players in the entire league that has such a clause in his contract. In fact, the only way that KG would accept a trade would be if Paul Pierce were to be traded first.

Dec 12, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) and power forward Kevin Garnett (5) signal during a break in the action against the Dallas Mavericks at the TD Garden. Celtics defeated the Mavericks in double overtime 117-115. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Both Paul and Kevin have made it clear that they want to retire as members of the Boston Celtics. In this article by ESPNBoston’s, Chris Forsberg, he quotes KG as saying, “…I bleed green and I continue to do that. And if it’s up to me then I’m going to retire a Celtic.”In this video, Paul Pierce is doing an interview with WEEI during practice. Pierce goes on to say, “I want to retire as a Celtic. That’s been my longtime goal, but it’s not under my control. The organization, they make their decisions, but it’s something I’ve desired since being here so long.”

In my opinion, this is a great thing to see, especially in today’s NBA where players change teams all the time. However, it’s a frightening thing to me as well. If this truly is Kevin Garnett’s last season then that means it could be Paul Pierce’s last as well.

Sure, they might not go out on top but as much as they love the game, their tired and battle tested bodies just might not have enough left to go through a possible rebuild next year. They won a ring together, something that was so elusive for a long period of time. Whether it was KG’s days in Minnesota or Paul’s early days with the Celtics, I think they both may have thought it just wasn’t supposed to happen for them. After going through years and years of being super stars on bad teams, these two future Hall of Famers got it done together.

Being the proud owner of a championship ring is the tip of what has been a mountainous career for Kevin Garnett. The man has done more in 17 seasons than most players dream about.

Accolades that include:

- NBA MVP (2004)
- 15 time NBA All Star (1997-98, 2000-11, 2013)
- All Star Game MVP (2003)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2008)
- 4 time All-NBA First Team (2000, 2003-04, 2008)
- 3 time All-NBA Second Team (2001-02, 2005)
- 2 time All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2007)
- 9 time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000-05, 2008-09, 2011)
- 3 time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2006-07, 2012)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1996)
- 4 time NBA Rebounding Champion (2004-07)
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizen Ship Award (2006)

Not to mention his career averages of 19.2 PPG and 10.5 RPG.

February 11, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics center forward Kevin Garnett (5) in the pre game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The bottom line is that KG has nothing left to prove to anyone. He’s done it all while being one of the most competitive players to ever put on an NBA uniform. His intensity has been unmatched throughout the years, causing his teammates to adore him while opponents can’t stand him. If KG decides to retire after this year then so be it. If he wants to bring Paul Pierce with him, let him. Both of these men have made huge impacts on the game we all know and love. As a lifetime Celtics fan, I am honored and feel truly privileged to have watched these men perform night in and night out. They’ve had each other’s backs for years, and it would only be fitting if The Big Ticket and The Truth rode away from the TD Garden in the same limousine, reminiscing on their prestigious careers and deciding what they should do first with all of their new found time.

*All stats can be found on NBA.com*

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Jan 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez (21) shoots a layup during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA is a star studded league filled with incredible talent. Guys like Kevin Durant and LeBron James run the Association. However, it’s easy to overlook the talent of the other immensely gifted players, because a lot of people pay closer attention to the best guys on teams that are successful. If you’re on the Magic then forget it you must stink, right? Wrong. I put together a list of five guys, on losing teams, that hardly get noticed for their play. Enjoy.

Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats Kemba Walker is a star in the making and since he plays for the lowly Bobcats, he’s often overlooked. I’ll admit that he didn’t live up to expectations in his rookie year but he’s really made an impact in his sophomore season. Walker has really improved in every facet of the game since last year. Through Tuesday, he’s averaging 17.3 PPG which is almost 5.0 more points a game than last years average. Although, he’s stood pat at 3.5 RPG he has increased his averages in assists, steals, and blocks. In fact, he has either tied or bettered the averages of All-Star, Kyrie Irving. Now I’m not saying that Walker should be an All-star but what I am saying is that his numbers call for more attention than he’s getting. Walker’s field goal, 3-point, and free throw percentages are also all up from last year.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons Am I the only one that thinks Lawrence Frank is out of his mind for playing Drummond a measly 20 MPG? According to Basketball-Reference.com, the guy is averaging 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per 36 minutes. Those are unbelievable numbers for Drummond, who was thought to be extremely raw coming out of college. There is really no justification for starting Maxiell over Drummond and I would love to hear any sort of reasoning Frank might have. Drummond is an explosive athlete with loads of potential. Unfortunately, fans hardly know about his success due to the small amount of playing time he gets and because he plays for the Detroit Pistons. I can’t imagine it will be too much longer until Drummond makes a name for himself in this league.

O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks For some reason I feel like only a handful of people have noticed how vital O.J. Mayo has been for Dallas. The USC product did everything he possibly could to keep the Mavs relevant until Dirk returned from injury. Since Dirk has returned, Mayo hasn’t been as effective but he continues to show us what he can be as a basketball player. After failing to meet expectations in Memphis a fresh start in Dallas was just what he needed. He’d no longer be buried on the bench and he would be able to silence the doubts people may have had. Mayo has averaged career highs in almost every major category. This includes his conversion rate of 42% from beyond the arc. If I’m Memphis, I wish I had kept him because he would’ve been able to fill the void left by Rudy Gay seamlessly. Oh well, all they can do is watch as he quietly does his thing for a struggling Dallas squad.

Greivis Vasquez, New Orleans Hornets Greivis Vasquez is having a career year but playing for the 15th ranked team in the Western Conference doesn’t help. It also doesn’t help that he has rookie phenom Anthony Davis, who garners all of the attention, for a teammate. Vasquez ranks third in the league in assists per game, second if you don’t count Rondo. He’s only trailing Chris Paul by 0.1 assists.

Ill give you a moment to let that sink in. Ok, time’s up. Seeing as Greivis only trails two other point guards in the race for the assist crown, that also means for more mind boggling news. Vasquez has more assists than the likes of Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, etc. Those guys are all considered elite and while Vasquez isn’t elite yet, he definitely has the whole passing thing down. Look for him to only get better year after year.

Earl Clark, Los Angeles Lakers Earl Clark was supposed to be a throw in so the Lakers could get Dwight Howard, right? Well if he is just a throw in, he’s a pretty good one. Clark isn’t the kind of guy that’s going to put up eye popping numbers. However, he is someone that’s going to give 110% night in and night out. In 21 minutes per game, Clark is putting up 7 points and 6 rebounds. Again, not exactly star numbers but he’s not really a star, he’s a glue guy. He’s been a small bright spot in the Lakers nightmare of a season, filling in admirably for the likes of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. We’ll get to see a lot more of Clark now because of both Howard and Gasol being injured. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a 10 and 10 guy when Gasol returns in 6-8 weeks.

*All stats from NBA.com unless otherwise noted.*

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Jan 30, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe (12) dunks the ball past Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Dante Cunningham (33) in the second half at Target Center. The Clippers won 96-90. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Last night on TNT, the players who will be taking part in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker 3-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk Contest were all announced. Each field of players is split into East and West sides because whichever conference wins the most challenges gets to donate money to their favorite charities. Without further ado, here are the participants.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge:

East

• Jrue Holiday, Sixers
• Brandon Knight, Pistons
• Jeff Teague, Hawks

West

• Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
• Jeremy Lin, Rockets
• Tony Parker, Spurs

Foot Locker 3-Point Contest:

East

• Paul George, Pacers
• Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
• Steve Novak, Knicks

West

• Ryan Anderson, Hornets
• Matt Bonner, Spurs
• Stephen Curry, Warriors

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest:

East

• Gerald Green, Pacers
• Terrence Ross, Raptors
• James White, Knicks

West

• Eric Bledsoe, Clippers
• Jeremy Evans, Jazz
• Kenneth Faried, Nuggets

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Skills Competition:

Ricky Rubio – Although Ricky Rubio is just recently getting back to form, you can’t deny his incredible ball skills and ability to set his teammates up. Rubio’s superior passing skills will allow him to breeze through the stations that involve either the chest or bounce pass. He may struggle a little bit with the set shot but I wouldn’t expect him to miss every shot attempt. Also, if Rubio does participate in this contest, it will be interesting to see how quickly he can get through the dribble portion. The sharp turns and change of direction could be an interesting test of that rebuilt knee of his. Even if he does struggle with the dribble and shooting stations, anticipate him to make up for it by firing in each of his pass attempts on the first or second try.

Jrue Holiday – Holiday is an up and coming star in this league and even if Kyrie Irving gets the nod over him at the starting point guard position, he should be allowed to show off his improved skill set in this competition. Despite the fact that he may not be the fastest point guard in the league, Holiday has the handle to get through the dribble course quite easily. Now I’m not saying that Jrue is slow but there are other potential candidates that will put you in the dust if you aren’t careful. The 76ers floor general will knock down his set shot with ease and will, for the most part, connect with his passes on the first or second try. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if he needed an extra attempt or two. Because of his vast overall improvement, Holiday deserves to be apart of the competition.

Ty Lawson – Remember those guys I mentioned that could blow by you in a blink of an eye? Well, yeah that’s Ty Lawson. Lawson has incredible end to end speed that rivals the likes of Derrick Rose and John Wall. He will have no problem pushing the tempo through the dribble course and getting to the basket quickly for his round finishing layup. If you had asked me earlier this year, I would’ve said that he would struggle with the jumper but anybody that has been following the Nuggets knows that he’s getting his confidence back game after game. Look for a guy like Lawson to use his speed and shot to his advantage because he may need a little extra time on those passes.

Kyrie Irving – This is sort of a pipe dream pick because I doubt that two of the point guards that actually made the All Star team would participate in a Saturday night event as well. Throw the doubt out the window though because as fans, we’re allowed to dream. Irving will have virtually no problem with the jump shot and his speed and handles will get him through the course in no time. You might argue he would have trouble with the passes but that’s far from the truth. Just because Irving isn’t averaging mind boggling assist totals doesn’t mean he isn’t a great passer and play maker. Given the team he plays for there aren’t many options for him to pass to. Look for Irving to fly through the dribble slalom and knock down his jumper on the first try. He may miss a pass or two but I wouldn’t count on it too much.

Winner: Kyrie Irving

3-Point Contest:

Klay Thompson – I think it’s fair to say that Klay Thompson is one of the most improved players of the 2012-13 season. After a relatively quiet rookie season, Thompson splashed onto the scene and became a go to three point shooter. According to NBA.com, Thompson is shooting 39% from downtown, converting on 128 of his 327 attempts. He ranks 34th in the league in 3 point percentage. In my opinion, his ranking doesn’t do him just because he is the kind of player that can get hot and go on streaks that are very exciting to watch.

Stephen Curry – Thompson’s teammate, Steph Curry, is a guy that can absolutely shoot the lights out. According to NBA.com, Curry is 2nd in the league in 3 point percentage. Through 43 games, Curry is shooting at a 46% clip from beyond the arc. The most impressive aspect of his 3 point shooting is that he is making 3.2 per game. Curry seems like a good fit for this contest because he can drain the long ball and doesn’t over use his legs while shooting it. As a result, Steph might not get as tired as his competition while he goes through the five racks of balls.

Kyle Korver – Korver is currently leading the league in 3 point percentage, coming in at an other worldly 47%, according to NBA.com. I’ve witnessed how dangerous he can be when he gets on a roll. I watched my Celtics take on the Hawks on January 25th and Kyle torched the C’s for 27 points, 24 of them coming on 3 pointers. Despite shooting the 3 ball the most efficiently I’m not sure how he would make out in a contest like this. He is more of a catch and shoot guy and he elevates a decent amount with each attempt. His shooting form could ultimately tire him out.

O.J. Mayo – If anyone (other than Curry and Korver) deserves to be in this contest, it’s O.J. Mayo. In his first year as a Dallas Maverick, Mayo burst onto the scene with remarkable 3 point shooting accuracy. I was happy to see him get a chance to show the league what he can do after a few frustrating years in Memphis. What I’ve learned so far from his short tenure with the Mavs, the man can flat out shoot. According to NBA.com, Mayo is tied with Kevin Durant for the 13th best 3 point percentage in the league. At around 42%, Mayo is making exactly two 3′s per game. If he gets a chance to participate, look for him to make some noise. I would take him as a sleeper pick.

Kevin Martin – So far it seems as though Kevin Martin is really enjoying his sixth man role with the Thunder. He doesn’t have to worry about setting up his inferior teammates like he had to do in both Sacramento and Houston. Instead, Martin just has to focus on getting open looks from distance and knocking them down with regularity. NBA.com has Martin ranked 6th in the NBA with a a percentage of 44%. Six of his fifteen points per game come off 3 pointers and despite his unorthodox release, Martin is a threat to get hot at any moment over the course of a game.

Steve Novak – Steve Novak was made for events like these. The Marquette alum doesn’t do much else but shoot the 3 but he’s extremely good at doing just that. Holding down the 4th spot for best 3 point percentage is Novak. He’s converting at a clip of 45% and six of his seven points per game come off of 3′s, according to NBA.com. Novak has little lift in his shot to go along with deadly accuracy. These two factors would play a huge role in his potential success in the NBA’s 3 point shootout.

Winner: Steve Novak

Dunk Contest:

Jeremy Evans – Although Evans gets little to no playing time with the Utah Jazz, he did win the contest last year. By default I’m including him on this list because more often than not, the NBA invites back the previous year’s winner to defend their crown. I’ll admit Evans is a gifted athlete but to be completely honest, last year’s contest was insulting. I don’t think I’ve seen a worse contest since I’ve been watching them. I’ll give him his credit though and predict that he’ll return to the competition this year seeking back to back titles.

J.R. Smith – We’ve seen J.R. Smith on this stage before and he did pretty well, despite Josh Smith winning that contest. This year Smith has thrown down some pretty nasty dunks. The one that comes to mind is the alley-oop from Pablo Prigioni where Smith had to basically reach down to his feet to catch the ball and threw the it down behind his head on the reverse. Smith is insanely athletic and can really send it in with flash and power for a guy his size. Smith would be a nice sleeper pick were he to compete.

Harrison Barnes – I’m not sure if anybody is paying attention to the rookie out of North Carolina but they should be. He may not be putting up Stephen Curry like numbers for the Warriors but he sure knows how to send a spark through the stadium. If you haven’t seen his vicious slam over one of the strongest centers in the NBA, I suggest you go watch it. Poor Nikola Pekovic was completely defenseless when Barnes came thundering through the lane. The rookie almost used Pek as a platform to push himself higher into the air and slam it through with authority. This kid is athletic, he must be because he was heavily compared to Kobe Bryant. He might not ever be as good as Bryant but he can sure dunk like a young Bryant.

Jeff Green – A little bit of home cooking here as I am one of the biggest Celtics fans you would ever meet. That’s besides the point though because Green truly deserves to be in this contest. Not only has he been playing better basketball in wake of the Rondo and Sullinger injuries, but he has consistently been making posters left and right. Jeff has punished guys like Al Jefferson, Marcin Gortat, Chris Bosh and Nikola Vucevic for getting in his way. Green gives Celtics fans something to be excited about as he is the apparent heir to the small forward position when Paul Pierce calls it quits. The Georgetown product is a freak athlete and embarrasses opposing players regularly. A word of advice: If you see Green coming down the lane, get out of the way.

Winner: Jeff Green

Now that you know who I would like to see compete in these extremely entertaining events, I would like to know who you think will be there on February 16th. Leave a comment below telling me who you would choose and why.