Get your questions in for NBA’er Maurice Ager
July 6, 2010
This summer we have been busy trying to schedule top notch guest for our listeners of the Celtics Late Night Show. So far we have two guests confirmed for the month of July, both from the Maine Red Claws.
The first is former Michigan State Spartan and New Jersey Nets guard, and current Maine Red Claws guard, Maurice Ager. Ager will be joining us on July 12th, this coming Monday. He will be discussing his future plans, the Red Claws organization, and his newly established production company Ager Music.
As always we want to get Celtics nation involved with this edition of the show. With that being said we are going to open up Brandon and Nick’s Mailbag for your questions. Have you ever wondered what life is like as an NBA player? Have you wondered about the differences between the NBA and NBDL? Well this is your time to ask question like these to a guy who has played at all levels. Send in your questions by clicking the link here.
We hope you enjoy the show on Monday and look forward to having you join us for future shows!
The New And Improved Tony Allen
February 4, 2010
This year the Boston Celtics have been lucky to be embraced by the presence of a new Tony Allen. Deep down this is the same guy that has been on the team during the past few years. He has the same DNA, same physical appearance, and some of the same flaws; however, as most Celtics fans have noticed, a lot has changed within this same guy.
This same guy has changed from so called “cancer” to a guy not even the harshest of Celtics fans would want to give up. He has changed from a guy who wanted to be shipped out of town, to a guy that has a true place and a true role on this team. He has changed from a loser, to a winner.
Correct me if I am wrong but the Tony Allen I, along with many other Celtics fans, expected to see this season was the Tony Allen that dribbles the ball off his knee every time down the court, the Tony Allen that shoots jumpers way out of his range, and the Tony Allen that fouls every time the person he is guarding throws up a nice pump fake. Let’s keep it simple and say we were wrong.
Earlier this season I was calling shots to have T.A pack his bags and move hundreds of miles away to a different city. I wanted nothing to do with him and honestly believed there was no place for him on the team. We are now past the halfway mark of the season and I regret every word of that article. I don’t want to jinx him and I don’t know if I dare say it but… Tony Allen is a freakin’ animal.
This season Tony has accomplished more than you could even dream of. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t Paul Pierce, he isn’t Rajon Rondo, and really he isn’t even Rasheed Wallace. What he is, is a great role player who is finally finding and settling into his role on this team.
As most of you probably know by now, Tony Allen is neither a ball handler nor a shooter. Tony Allen is a guy who can get to the rim, play in your face defense, and grab “Tommy Points”. For most of his career he has struggled with this role. Instead of accepting this role he has tried to make himself a superstar by creating his own offense and resorting to shooting jump shots.
Coming out of Oklahoma State as the 25th pick in the NBA Draft you would have to assume it was very hard for Tony to accept a lesser role. After all, most players who enter the NBA come into the league accustomed to playing huge roles on both their high school and college teams. It has taken a total of six years, and a lot of hard work, but Tony Allen has finally found his role.
This season T.A is doing everything we want him to and more. So far he is averaging 7.3ppg, 1.8 assists per game (career high), and he is currently shooting 52.6% (career high). That final stat really sticks out to me and shows me that he is accepting his role. He is taking shots he should be taking and making them, not taking crazy off balance shots and throwing up air balls.
Besides the statistical aspect there are ways that Tony has helped the team that you would not exactly find in the box score. This season he is bringing something that not many players on the team are… hustle. Tony is diving for loose balls, making smart basketball decisions, and doing all the little things that an avid basketball fan appreciates.
Late last night I spoke with A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE and he told me he believes Tony Allen has been the most consistent player on the Boston Celtics over the past month. He stated the fact that before this season the two things Tony Allen lacked were consistency and the ability to play a role. This year he has for the most part he has been consistent and has played his role.
Here’s to hoping that Tony Allen will continue being a true asset of the Boston Celtics. Let’s hope that Tony continues to improve and in times like these can make the absence of such guys like Paul Pierce and Marquis Daniels less painful. From us.. to you Tony… keep it up!!!
This article can also be seen at Gino’s Jungle.
Lets Not Forget Where This Trick Shot Originated
January 27, 2010
Kobe Bryant vs. Lebron James. Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant. Whos behind the backboard shot is better? Who gives a rip? They are both shots that are equally as difficult. However, let me remind you where this shot started this year:
It is time for other players who do the exact same thing as Lebron and Kobe to get some credit. It is funny how when both of these two players do miraculous shots, other players who have done the same thing get shoved to the side. Had Rondo not started the trend of shooting the ball from behind the basket, would their be any debate as to whether Kobe’s or Lebron’s was better?
In fact, shame on me for not bringing this back even further to Marco Belinelli who did the same shot last year:
Eh, whatever. It will always be the same for every sport. I am sure there are players who make better throws than Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in football but would never get the time of day if these 2 threw the same miraculous pass.
If you are interested or have not seen them yet (I dont feel like hogging up the whole front page of Hardwood Houdini to put them up) you can see Kobe’s shot here, or Lebron’s shot here.
Looking Back Into The Past: #0 Walter McCarty
December 7, 2009
With the lack of Celtics news coming out these past few days it has been difficult to find things to write about. I was sitting in my room today trying to think of something unique that we could start doing. I came up with a series, “Looking Back Into The Past”, which will highlight certain Boston Celtic legends careers while wearing the green jersey.
I was having trouble trying to decide who to start this series out with. I wanted the player to be someone I actually have seen play, and also someone recognizable to Celtics fans. There were guys like Antoine Walker, Dee Brown, Dana Barros, and even one of my personal favorites, David Wesley. There was one guy however that really stuck out to me as the perfect player to start this series off with.
You might know him best from a catch phrase used by a famous Celtics broadcaster, it went like this, “I Love Waltahhhhh”. If you don’t know who it is by now you are probably younger than I am, or going through six or seven tough years of your life. It is the man, the myth, and the legend, Walter McCarty.
Walter was picked up by the Celtics in 1997, as a result of a trade with the New York Knicks. Walter went on to spend seven and a half years with the Celtics, all coached under Rick Pitino, before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2005. During his stay in Boston, Walter was loved by everybody and a easy fan favorite. He was a versatile 6-10 forward who was famous his hard play and three point shooting.
The numbers that Walter put up during his stay aren’t necessarily the greatest, however, Walter will go down in Celtics history for his hard work on and off the court. In seven and a half years in Boston Walter managed to average 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game per game. Not all-star number by far, but Walter was just one of those crowd favorites (like Scalabrine), and he will go down in history.
Besides basketball Walter has also been involved in the entertainment industry. In 1998 Walter appeared in the basketball classic, “He Got Game”. In 2003 he also released a music album, and in 2006 he sang the National Anthem prior to the NBA All-star Game that year.
Currently Walter is an assistant coach at Lousiville, under his former Celtic coach Rick Pitino. He has helped Lousiville get to the Elite Eight in both of his seasons as assistant coach, and last year helped the team to the Big East Championship. Walter is a great guy and I wish him all the success, he is one of my favorite Celtics of all time. I LOVE WALTAH!!!!