The Minnesota Timberwolves lost their 60th game last week. After the game, Kevin McHale held a press conference to discuss the season that was and the future he envisions.
During the address, McHale smirked about the success of the Celtics, deliberated mightily when asked if he'd accept a 2008 Celtics championship ring and then dropped this bomb on the fans - all six of us: He expects a "20-game improvement" next season.
Not that I want to dignify this moronically bold prediction with a response, but that improvement would still leave the squad a good 10 games shy of a playoff berth. Also, what does it say about the team that literally hours after the conference, coach Randy Wittman downplayed his GM's prophecy, saying, "Let's see who we move forward with ... We'll have a better understanding then."
What a mess. I can't wait for football season.
The team to which my favorite player was traded is the first seed in the East and is the favorite to represent the conference in the NBA Finals. The Celtics haven't made many questionable decisions this year, as evidenced by their 66-win season. However, one particular choice stood out as not only questionable, but stupid: signing Sam Cassell.
I should've written about this weeks ago, but it's playoff time, which means the season is coming to an end in a few short weeks.
It's Sam Cassell's favorite time of year. Time to earn a new contract.
Sure, things might seem well and good now, but wait until after the season. Four years ago, the Wolves had just signed Cassell to lift a fraction of the enormous burden Garnett was carrying. And it worked. In his first season, Cassell played like an MVP.
After the club lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Lakers, however, it was Cassell time. Just days after the season ended, he was already bitching and moaning about his "unfair" contract. Long story short, he didn't get the exact offer he wanted by the time the 2005 season began.
His 2005 stats? Thirteen points-per-game, five assists, 46 percent shooting and 26 percent shooting from long range - all considerably lower than his stats in 2004.
His numbers weren't the biggest problem in 2005, as they won't be for the Celtics if he returns next year - which he isn't even convinced he will.
When asked if he'd come back to Boston for the veteran's minimum of $1.26 million, he said, "I'd consider it. There might be some teams that offer me more."
He'd consider it. He would consider coming back. Like it's such a pleasure having him. In 2005, Sam Cassell was an absolute cancer on the Wolves - a petulant and arrogant malcontent who was and is still the most selfish player I've ever seen. When Cassell didn't get the contract he desired in 2005 - and it won't be any different after this season for the Celtics - he acted like a complete jerk. He sat out games, sulking on the bench like a 3-year-old and played such porous defense that coach Flip Saunders was forced to play Anthony Carter.
That's right, Anthony Carter. And Troy Hudson, who is probably more well-known at this point for his rap record than his playing career.
I understand the need to have depth at the point guard spot, but do the Celtics truly want their promising young point guard learning from a guy who doesn't like to practice, is constantly unhappy with how "underpaid" he is and a player who legitimately does not care about defense? A player who will jack up shots with no regard for offensive execution? A player who has always been more concerned with his own bank account and stat line than with the success of his team? A player who, at 38 years old, still acts like a whiny child?
For the sake of my favorite player and his team's future, I hope not.
Ross Marrinson is a senior majoring in international relations. He can be reached at Ross.Marrinson@tufts.edu.
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