Why does Bill Simmons repeat anti-Celtic propaganda?

[chakdaddy]

This seems like a recurring theme, and is part of why I question whether he's a real fan.

In today's column he claims that Rondo "admitted that he hit Miller on purpose." That's the first I heard of that; why is he repeating talk like that? If stuff like that gets repeated, people think it's true, and god forbid, maybe Rondo could even get suspended?

In the same column he implies that Russell tried to get Wilt to like him so he'd go easy on him. That's practically blasphemy.

He also frequently repeated the garbage about us getting KG for cheap because of McHale.

And finally, he frequently spouts the "cult of Jordan" party line that no other player could ever approach MJ. How could a fan of the Celtics say that when his own team has two viable candidates for the greatest ever???

[Knicksick]

Have no clue about that Russell/Wilt stuff but I remember reading some quotes by other Gm's after the Garnett trade and reading some articles that stated that the Wolves had 4 offers that were clearly better than Boston's. Then you add the MChale/Ainge connection and some believe that McHale wanted Garnett to join the Celtics. If true or not nobody is gonna ever know really.


As for the league wide dislike for the Celtics----well a lot of NBA champions get disliked but I believe I've heard many times now that the Celtics go way overboard with their trash talking. During the past two seasons I heard many players quoted saying that they never met a team trash talking as much/bad as the Celtics since winning the championship.
Add to that the fact that 7 foot Garnett repeatedly attacks 6 foot players and acts tough against them (although he clearly doesn't have the balls to do that against tough Centers) and it is probably very easy to dislike the Celtics.
Don't get me wrong: most NBA champs tend to get arrogant and talk trash (except the Spurs who are pretty classy Bowen aside)--but I've never heard so many guys on different teams and random teams complain about the Celtics behavior on the court.

[chakdaddy]

Have no clue about that Russell/Wilt stuff but I remember reading some quotes by other Gm's after the Garnett trade and reading some articles that stated that the Wolves had 4 offers that were clearly better than Boston's. Then you add the MChale/Ainge connection and some believe that McHale wanted Garnett to join the Celtics. If true or not nobody is gonna ever know really.

Yeah, but that's known garbage...what were they going to get better than Big Al? The only potential deal at the time that sounded even comparable would have been some sort of Monta Ells + Biedrins package, but most people would choose Jefferson.

I can't argue with the other stuff about the Celtics being disliked, but that didn't have anything to do with my post...

[Celtic Esquire]

Because he lives in LA and is brainwashed by the legions of bandwagon Lakers fans that live here.

Simmons makes some good points in his article today (i.e., no calls during the last 15 seconds of the game), but his Lebron fellating is getting absurd. Yes, the Cavs are a good team, but let's see how they play against a YOUNG athletic team like Atlanta or a team with a superstar who is going to get get as many calls as LBJ (i.e., Miami).

Detroit had no business being in the playoffs. They knew it. The Cavs knew it. The league knew it.

I don't take a Detroit sweep to mean anything to me much as I don't take the Lakers 4-1 series win over Utah to mean anything.

[stretch]

NOBODY really knows (except the Wolves brass) if they had "BETTER" offers!!

All we know is that AL JEFFERSON was the best player offered to Minnesota.
And right now, he's the best scoring big man in the NBA (alongside Yao Ming).

And unless Blake makes that quantum leap in his first two years, or Dwight somehow snags Clifford Ray from us, or Amare really puts it together, or Brand somehow comes back healthy and better than ever, Jefferson will continue being the top scoring big in the league.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

knicksbitch,
1. die slow.
2. if you come on this board, don't make up ****. spend 5 minutes on youtube. you'll KG in the faces of Amare, Duncan. find me clip of KG being quick to backdown.
3. show me a better offer, one that trumps giving up Al Jefferson.

look, I know you are fan of the bitches, and have never seen a winner in your life. but that doesn't give you an excuse to blatantly make up ****.

[Knicksick]

alwayslovethoseceltics,

1.you dirty son of a bitch go **** yourself
2.Garnett is a little sissy punk who got knocked out by a 6'2 guard (Peeler)
3.your mother's mouth sure feels good on my dick

[billfromBoston]

Quality post knicksick, unfortunately not based in reality.

There were 4 main deals discussed:

- GSW and Biedrins/Ellis package
- Dallas and Howard/Harris package
- Chicago with Noah/Deng/Gordon package
- Boston with Jefferson/Gomes/Telfair package

Only two packages provided Minny with a big man - the Biedrins/Ellis package is intriguing, but both were coming up on new deals and GS had to trade a ton of long-term salary along with those two to make it work. The rumored Lakers deal was squashed because LA didn't want to include Bynum. Phoenix was in the mix but didn't want to relinquish Stoudamire.

Dallas and Chicago were offering wings and guards - something that just wasn't going to happen in Minny as they were pretty much holding out for a young big in return. Al Jefferson was the best young big available and the only franchise caliber big on the table.

Jefferson is THE best low-post offensive big man in the game, one that will average 27-30ppg at some point to go along with his 11-12 rebounds and 2-3 blocks - he is the best player available in any of the trade scenarios.

Add to it a player in Gomes, who is fast establishing himself as a viable 3rd option scorer at 17ppg under McHale and you've gotten 2 out of your top 3 scorers, with Foye already in the mix. Telfair has shown to be a quality starting PG, though not a star.

Boston was also able to make that deal without Minny taking on long-term money, which isn't sexy but its a huge, huge factor. Additionally, the got 2 first round draft picks -- this was by far the best deal on the table.

[Knicksick]

Well I never said that theory (with the 4 deals) was true---just said that the notion was rumored. To be honest I never went into detail reading too much about it. The deal was done and it was far from bad for the Wolves. Jefferson is certainly a very good player (although IMO he'll never reach 30ppg--that's a little too much). Getting an very good 6'10 PF back for a 31year old Garnett is far from a bad deal. I don't regard Jefferson as great as you guys but he definitely is among the top PFs. IMO Bosh,Stoudamire,Duncan,Garnett,Brand(pre injury) were better PFs at that time but Jefferson is clearly 5-10 range.

One could argue that Noah/Deng/Gordon at THAT time was a better offer but it's close. Anyways I have no interest in bashing the Celtics or trolling or anything like that. Deal was made and it was far less lopsided than other deals we've seen (Rasheed for essentially nothing, Gasol for Brown and a Marc Gasol etc.)

But if I get attacked in a disrespectful manner I'll react.


To be clear : As a divisional rival it is obvious that I don't like the Celtics (although I respect Allen,Rondo).I'm somewhat indifferent about Pierce---but IMO Garnett is among the top 3 punks in the league---he's absolutely a clown and his behavior is absolutely not worthy of a champion and I truly believe that everything that happened to him (8seasons in Minnesota and now the injury) really happens due to a reason to him: The dude has no character and is the complete opposite of a true sportsman.

Anyways I don't wanna troll really and stir up anything. I do enjoy a competitive series between two hated teams LOL. Good luck guys.

[Red2]

simmons comment about rondo admitting he hit him on purpose is probably out of context. Rondo may have said that he fouled him on purpose or hit him as in fouling him but that's a different statement than saying " yeah I intentionally tried to hit him in the face and hurt him" But I agree with your basic premise that Simmons has become a douche.

[chakdaddy]

Bulls never would have given that much. Deng is untouchable. Hinrich and Gordon are future HOFer's. They probably offered one of Thomas/Noah, one of Hinrich/Gordon, and Sefolofsha or something like that.

If Paxson had ever manned up in the first place and gotten off his high horse, Gasol to LA never would have happened.

Of course, if Gasol to LA never happened, we might have been Finals victim #5 for the Spurs, so who knows; the Boston/LA finals last year was sweet since it turned out right. But I would love to see the Odom/Kobe/Bynum/Kwame Lakers scraping for their rightful spot as a 7/8/9 seed.

[UGA Hayes]

That article is garbage from start to finish. Wilt let russell beat him b/c he liked him? WTF?

[GreenDreamer]

Well, Russell was ruthless, and I have no doubt that he would have leveraged his offcourt friendship with Wilt to get an oncourt advantage over him. He probably didn't talk about his mother, or anything, but I'm sure that he knew Wilts weakspot inside and out. Hell, if you are playing one of your friends, you will mess with their heads, even in a pickup game, if you want to win.

[Rocky5000]

Russell was very smart. I wouldn't put it by him, he played psychological games all of the time. He would intentionally not block a shot, in order to make the player feel secure about taking it, just so that he could block it later in the game.

[3pt %]

wah wah wah

That one was one of the funniest SG articles in a while. He isn't a serious journalist, he is a funny guy writing from a fan's point of view.

Just enjoy it. Besides, he says that Rondo pulled a great play with the knowledge that the refs weren't going to call it.

[AAU Teammate]

i think the word 'propaganda' is being misused here

basically though, it comes down to SG being in a position of importance where he has to tell the truth even as he states his biases, whereas no poster here has their feet held to the fire in that way.

obviously it was a dirty play. smart, yes, Rondo did what he should. it was going to be 2 pts.

the league is who should be held accountable in my view.

[apollocreed32]

knicksbitch,
1. die slow.
2. if you come on this board, don't make up ****. spend 5 minutes on youtube. you'll KG in the faces of Amare, Duncan. find me clip of KG being quick to backdown.
3. show me a better offer, one that trumps giving up Al Jefferson.

look, I know you are fan of the bitches, and have never seen a winner in your life. but that doesn't give you an excuse to blatantly make up ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzYepSwO8P4

[apollocreed32]

That article is garbage from start to finish. Wilt let russell beat him b/c he liked him? WTF?

he didnt say he let him beat him. he said he never went super bonkers on him. half of you celtic fans are jokes lol

[ARB729]

not one of his best articles, but

[MyInsatiableOne]

That article is garbage from start to finish. Wilt let russell beat him b/c he liked him? WTF?

I have to say, it's another loser from Simmons. I don't have a problem with what he said about Rondo...Rondo himself admitted in afterward. While he does make some good and valid points elsewhere in the article, he's has just utterly jumped the shark as an entertaining or even relevant read. His condescending "know-it-all" NBA knowledge is just annoying....**** obnoxious. Hey Bill, you're not the only one who has followed pro hoops for your entire life (raises hands, as do loads of others here), and not all of us have an entire ESPN staff and no real job so we can spend days researching an article and then spout off obscure facts to seem "smart"...

The Russell/Wilt thing was incredible....I'd like Simmons to say that to Russ and see the look on Russ' face before Russ bitch slaps him to next Tuesday!