Doc on David West signing with Pacers and Pietrus update!

[TA9]

Lil update from Doc bout Pietrus;

"If Eddie [Lacerte] tells me he can play tomorrow, I swear I would throw him in the game," said Rivers. "Because there’s no time, there’s just no practice. We’re getting so creative right now, even with how we practice. We’re doing things today that, when we get started, that we’ve never tried, and that’s something that we’ve never done. I would always run my coaches through the drills, do it just so there’s no contact, but it’s just one of those things but we have to get stuff out of these practices."

[j804]

Lil update from Doc bout Pietrus;

"If Eddie [Lacerte] tells me he can play tomorrow, I swear I would throw him in the game," said Rivers. "Because there’s no time, there’s just no practice. We’re getting so creative right now, even with how we practice. We’re doing things today that, when we get started, that we’ve never tried, and that’s something that we’ve never done. I would always run my coaches through the drills, do it just so there’s no contact, but it’s just one of those things but we have to get stuff out of these practices."

I dont get it when was this posted, there is a game tomorrow?

[TA9]

Lil update from Doc bout Pietrus;

"If Eddie [Lacerte] tells me he can play tomorrow, I swear I would throw him in the game," said Rivers. "Because there’s no time, there’s just no practice. We’re getting so creative right now, even with how we practice. We’re doing things today that, when we get started, that we’ve never tried, and that’s something that we’ve never done. I would always run my coaches through the drills, do it just so there’s no contact, but it’s just one of those things but we have to get stuff out of these practices."

I dont get it when was this posted, there is a game tomorrow?

My bad didnt see that the Article was from yesterday lol!
But yeah he is talking about the Pacers game tonight!

[libermaniac]

Did I miss something? I always thought the C's never could work out that sign and trade b/c N.O couldn't find a taker for J.O.  So, West got tired of waiting.  Do we know for sure that the C's could've pulled off that sign and trade if West had waited?

[Fafnir]

Did I miss something? I always thought the C's never could work out that sign and trade b/c N.O couldn't find a taker for J.O.  So, West got tired of waiting.  Do we know for sure that the C's could've pulled off that sign and trade if West had waited?

Yes sources have indicated that though the sign and trade was delayed it was still going to happen. During the delay the Pacers convinced West to sign with them instead however.

[j804]

David West made what was perceived as an unusual free-agent decision last month, choosing to sign with the smaller-market, building Indiana Pacers over a potential opportunity with the Celtics.

The Celtics were working out a deal to acquire West as long as he agreed to a long-term extension to stay in Boston beyond this season. Instead of a three- or four-year deal at about $9 million per season, West accepted a two-year $20 million offer from Indiana.

The Pacers come to TD Garden tonight for the first of two meetings in eight days with the Celtics, and West (right, courtesy of AP) will make his first visit to Boston since his decision.

West is averaging 11.8 points and seven rebounds in six games for the 4-2 Pacers.

"I just felt like it was the best opportunity for me right now," West said of the Pacers. "They're a team and where I was in terms of my career, the fact they were the main team that came after me in terms of my free agency played a big part of it."

West said the Boston deal was overblown.

"I think a lot of that was a lot more media than actual substance," he said this morning. "I found out like everybody else did on TV that I was close to signing. There were in discussions but I just don't think in terms of the seriousness of what was going on, people really know what was out there for me."

Ray Allen said last month that West made a mistake by passing on the Celtics and an opportunity to win a title in favor of a team perhaps expected to do nothing more than make the playoffs.

"Man he just didn't know that facts, all the things that were involved in the situation," West said. "I don't get caught up in stuff like that. It's one of those things when guys don't know all the information that's out there, it's kinda of a situation where they are more responsive about where they were and the situations there were dealing with."

West made a pointed statement about the perception of the Celtics. He noted a reason he did not want to sign a long-term deal here was that the window is closing quickly, perhaps faster than he wanted.

"In Boston, everybody is kinda realistic about the window that the Celtics have," he said. "Me looking at where I'm at. I think my window is a little bit wider. This young team here (the Pacers), the next few seasons have the piece to be able to compete."

We get it you think we're old well were not done and throughout your contract well still be here in front of you guys as far as the East goes. Now lets kick there butt sick of hearing this chump.

[Marcus13]

Indiana will never be able to win it all because Larry Bird is an idiot.

Isn't it crazy how two of the greatest players of all time turned out to be two god-awful GM's?  (MJ and Bird)

um . . . he seems to have put together a pretty decent team in Indiana.  he also put together a very competitive Pacers team in the middle of the last decade (the Jermaine O'Neal era).  the Palace brawl which wrought the downfall of that iteration of the Pacers was not Larry's fault.

Meh....Larry took over the Pacers in 03, the brawl happened in 04.  This is really the first season that he's assembled a quality team sense taking over.  He just hasn't made good moves.

They actually had CAP Space after moving Artest and company.  With that space, they acquired Al Harrington and his terrible contract.  Then he managed to turn Harrington and Jackson into Dunleavy and Murphy....he also gave Jamaal Tinsley a six year, $40 million dollar deal.

Re-building sucks though, so if he can keep the Pacers has a mid-playoff team for a stretch of time then I suppose the last six seasons or so can be forgiven

[guava_wrench]

I seriously dont see Pacers as a team thats gon win it all, they are going to be a good team though
Good news cant wait to see him!

i think the Pacers have just about the same chances we do this year. and probably better chance in the next few year when we will be rebuilding.

I really don't get this.  Indiana can be good, but to me there is simply no conceivable way they could win a championship.  If we are healthy, I think we can.  Not that great of a chance but certainly more of one than Indiana.

I think all these Knicks, Indiana, 76ers type predictions are going to look silly later on, even if one of those teams finishes ahead of us in seeding.

Just think of it this way: Do you see any coneivable way these teams could beat Miami or Chicago?  Because the East goes through those teams, and I think they're both better than we are but we could beat them if we put it together.  No chance for Indiana.  They got smoked without Wade playing the other day.  We made a run at Miami without Pierce.  Single games, but I think telling nonetheless.

I agree.

There is a difference between best case and probable outcome. Our probable outcome this season may be similar to Indiana's, but our best case is still much better. There are a lot of variable in a season, and if they all end up in Indiana's favor, they still don't make the finals.

[OttawaCeltic]

Pietrus;

Mickael Pietrus’ surgically repaired right knee has looked strong in pregame workouts with the C’s strength and conditioning coaches. He is expected to make his debut next Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Good news cant wait to see him!

Note to all Celtic Fans:
Every time there is a prediction of a return, just expect the return to be the game after.

[Greenbean]

Pietrus;

Mickael Pietrus’ surgically repaired right knee has looked strong in pregame workouts with the C’s strength and conditioning coaches. He is expected to make his debut next Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Good news cant wait to see him!

Note to all Celtic Fans:
Every time there is a prediction of a return, just expect the return to be the game after.

LOL...youre right.

[action781]

Doc on West;

West, though, has said his decision was influenced by the potential of Indiana’s young roster compared to a Celtics team making a final championship push.

“I had no problem with it. He had two good decisions,” Rivers said. “He could look at us as a team that was trying to win it right now, and then he has a team at Indiana that is going be in the thick of it as well, and they’re young and he can grow with them. To me, he was in a win-win situation.”

I seriously dont see Pacers as a team thats gon win it all, they are going to be a good team though

Pietrus;

Mickael Pietrus’ surgically repaired right knee has looked strong in pregame workouts with the C’s strength and conditioning coaches. He is expected to make his debut next Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

“He’s a great workout guy right now,” Rivers said. “That’s what we’re calling him. He’s doing skeleton (offensive sets) already. He’s been doing that. He looks great, by the way. I think next week when we have the couple of days (off), I think he’ll be able to get out on the floor and do something active.”

Good news cant wait to see him!

Thanks for the updates. I was sad the Cs missed out on West, but props to Doc for being classy about it, as he always is....

It's impressive how consistently classy Doc is whenever making any remark to the media.

[Sketch5]

Funny, he wanted to play for a contender, but went to a team that wont really be ready until after his contract is up. Why not play for the C's for one year, make a run at the tile, make your value higher, because it seems to happen when you play with good players, then go to a younger team for more money next season?

[cman88]

im not really too down on this trade falling apart anymore...

Brandon bass has been putting up better stats so far than West...I dont think hes the same player anymore.

I just dont see Indiana becoming anything more than Atlanta Hawks...a career 5th-6th seed who get bumped in the 2nd round.

[garz]

im not really too down on this trade falling apart anymore...

Brandon bass has been putting up better stats so far than West...I dont think hes the same player anymore.

I just dont see Indiana becoming anything more than Atlanta Hawks...a career 5th-6th seed who get bumped in the 2nd round.

Me neither. I like Bass way better.

I don't think Indiana is going anywhere either. Not now or within the span of West's contract.

[European NBA fan]

I think for West it was a case of taking less money to go with a team that is very good but would still be a somewhat long shot for a title even with him on board and a young team that will be competitive for multiple years yet probably won't seriously compete for a title anytime soon.

West is a player who's never earned a max contract, and he's coming off a knee injury.  I can understand why he went with more money.

Agreed, its definitely the money.
But why is this game about the money instead of the passion? The Celtics offered him 3 years 24.5 million, that would be 8.175 million a year.
Heck i would be glad if i made near 800k in the NBA its more than what a average person makes in a year cmon son!

If you read, the interview with West about his choice, I think it's safe to say, that it was not about the money. It was about ensuring him to be on a competetive (young) team for the length of the contract, and being a leader on and off court.
With the Celtics he would be seen as a great addition to an all star loaded starting five, but would have no insurance of what happens next year. Actually he would probably be seen as a  trade asset this summer, while the Celtics reload/rebuild.