First off thanks to reader Georgia for the Fan Post (see below) that gave me the heads up on this signing. I remember the C's worked Miles out earlier this summer, but I didn't really think it would go anywhere. And lo and behold it happened. Some thoughts on the deal.

1. My first thought? Blazers fans are not going to like this. Remember when Miles was waived the following came to light:

"Assuming that Miles does not pass another team’s physical and get picked up by another NBA franchise, the Blazers would be able to take the last two years of his $48 million contract off their salary cap."

That same article had a big time quote from Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard,

"The doctors had actually said…‘if you were my son, I’d never have you pick up a basketball again. I’m the kind of GM (that) I wouldn’t want that on my head that he ever had to have knee replacement." - Pritchard

I guess Danny Ainge is the kind of GM that is okay with it. As expected Blazers fans are not pleased. Lot of reactions there, especially after the thread picks back up following a detour of sorts. I found one comment particularly insightful. It's called "No wishing him the best: [Green Bandwagon UPDATE: Since the initial posting I've gotten some feedback from Blazers fans/Blazers Edge readers and the following does not represent the opinion of the vast majority of them. While it still may be useful in regards to the extreme or how things could go if Miles were to play sparingly in 10 games and get cut, it is now clear to me that it is definitely the exception and not the rule.]

"The procedure followed by the Blazers is that the league and the players union appointed an independent doctor to examine the evidence and issue a ruling. That ruling affected the Blazers, Miles, and any team interested in Miles. It was the Blazers, however, who had the risk. Miles was, after all, under contract. And when the ruling was issued, Miles was not willing to give the Blazers the same contract that he then went out and offered to all other teams. Instead, he kept the Blazers guaranteed contract, which they have to pay regardless of whatever contract he signed with NY. In sum, if NY pays the minimum, then the Blazers pay the difference between the minimum and the $9 million/year they owe Darius.

Darius and his agent, in sum, took advantage of the situation. Some of you who wish him the best should keep that in mind. If he’d offered the Blazers the same deal he offered all other teams – basically, let me play and I’ll show you I’m worthy of a roster spot, and I’ll also absolve you of liability if I reinjure myself – then I can understand your position.

But he didn’t do that.

As a Blazer fan, I have no sympathy for Miles or his agent. He was not a $9 million/year player – knew it, and every other team knew it. But the Blazers pay for it.

Now, if he should make the roster, the Blazers also lose the cap space, just as they lost the player. The cap space was nothing more than an off-set to the salary they must still pay – but gave them the ability to replace him without penalties.

Under the circumstances, its in my interest that he blows the knee out and never plays again.

So, no wishing him the best here." - Eben Calder

Anytime a person openly states a desire to see someone blow out a knee...well that's a clear signal the stakes are high. The Miles signing is definitely bad news in the midst of all the Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez excitement. We could be watching the beginning of a Celtics/Trail Blazers blood feud. Henry Abbott summed the situation up nicely a while back:

"Everyone knows, however, that the Blazers have a business interest in keeping Darius Miles from playing in the League in the next two years -- if he plays ten games, his medical retirement is over, and Miles' salary is back counting against Portland's salary cap and luxury tax number." - Henry Abbott

More after the jump...

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With the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics already in the books and basketball tipping off on the 10th, it's good that these Olympic previews are winding down. Fellow SB Nation blog At the Hive will wrap things up tomorrow with a look at a team that comes from a country which rhymes with "America". Of course you can also check out past reviews in the sidebars at both sites. I'll also give you the option of clicking on the following links: China, Greece, Russia, Argentina, Australia, Iran, Lithuania, Angola, Croatia, and Germany.

Population: 40,491,051

Size in Comparison to a US State: About twice the size of Oregon (slightly bigger)

Suffrage: Universal at 18

Interesting Fact: Why is Ferdinand Magellan (yes he was Portuguese, but he sailed for Spain) credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe when he died in the modern day Philippines on his epic voyage? I understand that on a previous voyage he sailed beyond where he ultimately died. Still a bunch of random, anonymous dudes on his ship made it in one trip. Now that everyone has stopped reading...

Recommended Reading: Can I Keep My Jersey? - Some insight into playing basketball in Spain. Don't read if you are worried about a book slowly altering your mood in a negative way.

World Rank (Courtesy of FIBA): 3

Qualified: 2006 FIBA World Champion

Dream Match Up in Beijing: Argentina

Dream Match Up That Did Not Qualify: Puerto Rico

Recent News: If Spain captures the gold it will serve as yet another big moment in a golden age of Spanish sports.

Catch the players after the jump...

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As I mentioned earlier Eddie House and Tony Allen appear to be back in the fold for two more seasons. With their imminent signings I thought it would be interesting to dive into the archives and look at some posts I wrote about them in the past year. There was a profile of House. Other than that he was mentioned in parts of numerous other posts. He's a role player in that regard. And yet Allen received way more attention. And he was somewhere between the 10th and 12th man. Still that attention was not without reason. At the start of the 2007 season I was incredibly focused on 7 young players - Tony Allen, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, and Delonte West. They developed as follows:

Gomes - solid role player, traded
Green - talented enigma who will probably never get it, traded
Jefferson - double-double guy, traded
Perk - defensive beast
Rondo - defensive stalwart, rapidly improving, potential star
West - solid third guard, starting point guard with LeBron, traded

That leaves Allen who unlike the other six did not either get traded or develop significantly. In fact outside of possibly Green, Allen easily regressed the most, due in large part to that epic knee injury.  And yet I continue to pull for him. Check out the following posts:

Player Profile
2007 Season Recap
The Road Back
A Random Post detailing his possessions against the hated Bulls.

If you're too lazy to read those posts, and quite frankly I don't blame you, you can still enjoy two of my favorite exchanges from the 2007 season:

Tommy Heinsohn and Mike Gorman reacting to Allen's season ending knee injury:

"Dire straits. Dire straits. You know where dire straits is?" - Heinsohn

"Africa?" - Gorman when he finally got a word in.

"Just south of frustration." - Heinsohn

I still have no idea what that means.

And...

Allen's response to his mother when she complained about Brian Scalabrine driving them to the hospital. "This this is better than an ambulance. This is Scal!" - Tony Allen

First off I don't necessarily buy the whole "strong veteran presence is the cure for everything" type of thinking. For example in the past Paul Pierce alluded to his frustration with trying to bring Gerald Green along and how a guy has to want it to be successful. Of course this is an entirely different team nowadays with a stronger veteran core and young guys - Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, and Rajon Rondo - known for working hard. Seriously if O'Bryant doesn't bring it in practice Powe will eat his lunch. Overall I like Boston's mix of veterans and youth and I'm on board with the gambles - J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker (knee), and now O'Bryant - Danny Ainge has taken. And since it's been pretty slow around here I've decided to put together 10 reasons O'Bryant in green and white makes sense. Worst case someone on the Celtics (Paul Pierce?) can put some popcorn on his Christmas tree.

JRich pranks teamate Patrick O'Bryant (via hotsizzle869)

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I expected James Posey to opt out of his contract and he did yesterday.  That same article reveals some other Boston Celtics related free agent news:
"One move was made last night when the franchise failed to make Tony Allen a qualifying offer, thus making the guard an unrestricted free agent, according to his agent, Mike Higgins." - Marc J. Spears
This interested me for three reasons:

1. As Spears noted the Celtics sent some strong signals once they drafted and traded for J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker respectively.

2. I find "the the franchise failed to make Tony Allen a qualifying offer" wording funny as if it was accidental. It's not like the time Terrell Owens' camp messed up his impending free agency. Although that appears to be the industry standard.

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Well the off season is officially upon us. To that end I enjoyed this Steve Bulpett article because it was packed with info:

1. Perkins may need more surgery on his left shoulder. Not cool. As a result he turned down USA basketball's offer to scrimmage with the Olympic Team this summer.

2. Rajon Rondo turned down his offer as well. No reason was given. Of course in addition to working on his shot and other aspects of his game Rondo has a strict roller skating regime. I'm not even remotely kidding.

3. Due to his drop in playing time at the end of the season Eddie House may not be back. Bummer...

4. Some interesting names thrown around for free agent bigs.

5. Tony Allen's future is a mystery.

Thanks to Loy's Place for the heads up on this one.

You have to give the folks at Reebok credit. The Rondo'd ad campaign was well done. In fact it inspired me to make verbs out of the rest of the Celtics. Obviously it's forced and given the way the season ended, overwhelmingly positive. Such is life. I'll start with Rondo, provided by Reebok, and go alphabetically from there.

Rondo'd

1. To move smoothly between large objects with dexterity and purpose.
2. To remove an object quickly without being detected.
3. To create a distraction followed by a quick change of direction.

Ray Allen'd

1. To rain 3 pointers down upon a squad with reckless abandon even if said squad has given up.
2. To run a defender off of numerous picks, slowly eroding his desire to defend.
3. To obsessively adhere to rituals, superstitions, and a lifestyle at all costs.

Tony Allen'd

1. To injure one’s self on a dunk after the whistle.*
2. To infuriate opposing fans, players, and broadcasters with off the back board alley oops, self-pass windmill dunks, and reverse alley oop slams, regardless of the situation.
3. To possibly black out briefly following dunks.**
4. To raise the blood pressure of a fan base with numerous ill-advised decisions primarily related to dribbling.

* It killed me to include that. But fair is fair.
** This is one of my favorite Celtics related theories. I'm not sure who came up with it. And though it sounds far fetched, watch this dunk. And this one. You think he has any idea where he is? As always thank you freeTA42.

Brown'd

1. To always let a player know he was fouled when an infraction is whistled.
2. To engage in stare downs, exchange trash talk, and then walk away with a subtle, “I would eat this guy’s lunch” smirk.
3. To play in a physical manner that includes moving screens, hard box outs, and essentially non-stop contact in a way that makes people wish you still had your athleticism.

Cassel'd

1. To talk to fans, teammates, referees, opponents, coaches, really anyone who will listen in such a non-stop fashion that it is simultaneously endearing and maddening.
2. To reveal one’s self to be the ultimate ball stopper who shoots without a conscience or a concerted effort to set up one’s teammates.
3. To provide the opposing team with a tremendous offensive advantage.
4. To establish one’s self as one of the most confident individuals within a 5-mile radius on a basketball court.
5. To create a celebratory dance that is easily more offensive than wearing jeans and a t-shirt to a game and yet never face the wrath of a fine happy, image conscious NBA.

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The 2004 Patriots are my favorite team of New England’s run. Don’t get me wrong I loved the 2001 squad. But in 2004 Tom Brady had emerged, Corey Dillon was a beast, the defense was stifling at times, and the Pats only lost twice. Just a great season. However, for me it all comes down to the playoff game against the Colts. It was the year that seemingly everyone picked Indianapolis to get over the hump, something that seemed even more likely with Richard Seymour and Ty Law unable to play. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning won the MVP and started his ridiculous run of appearing in an ad during every single commercial break of football games. More on that later. You may also recall that Mike Vanderjagt said New England was “ripe for the picking” in the lead up to the game. Come game time it was a cold, snowy day in Foxborough and the Patriots dominated from start to finish with brilliant defense. They rushed 3, dropped 8 into coverage, beat receivers up at the line, and seemed a step quicker all day. The highlight? You could go with the crowd chanting, “Cut that meat!” in honor of one of Manning’s numerous ads. However, let’s stick with the play on the field. With time winding down in the first half the Colts put together a bit of a drive. It ended emphatically when Peyton Manning went to Dominic Rhodes. Tedy Bruschi stopped him for a two-yard loss and went a step further by ripping the ball out of Rhodes’ hands. Not only did it show the huge difference in aggression between the squads that day, but it also doubled as a “this game is freaking over” moment. I bring this up mainly because I immediately thought of Bruschi’s play when Rajon Rondo ripped the ball out of Lamar Odom’s hands. There were a lot of great plays - KG's and 1, House and Posey going on an 11-0 run, Tony Allen's reverse ally oop, Glen Davis inexplicably dunking, Pierce's drives and assists, a statement block by Perk, Ray Allen raining down 3s, and more. But Rondo's numerous steals in general and the one on Odom in particular were big time. In fact it was a huge night for Rondo – 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals. He had as many offensive rebounds (2) as all of the Lakers combined. On top of that Rondo had 2 more steals than LA and did it all with one turnover. In honor of Rondo’s stellar play I’m going to post the Rajon Rondo movie. For the record I made this in the midst of the disaster that was last season. And I recognize that it’s way too long and has numerous other flaws as well. Granted I can’t bring myself to watch it again. It’s painful. But it has its moments. I maintain that the broken glass and Delonte West wire hanger scenes are fantastic. This is for a limited time only. Enjoy after the jump…

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This night is about the Celtics. It will be a long time before I get over the 131 points they dropped on the Lakers. Still I'd like to touch on a few Kobe Bryant related points. Like it or not he's a massive figure in the NBA.

- I found this post comparing Kobe Bryant to Dirk Nowitzki interesting. I actually see the Lakers bouncing back from this because their personnel is far superior than Dallas'. Still interesting stuff.

- Hypothetically speaking what happens if Team USA plays team Spain in Beijing when the Olmpics roll around? Of course I'm talking about Men's Basketball. Is there a chance that Kobe tries to destroy his Lakers teammate (Pau Gasol) in a way that is eerily reminiscent of the way MJ and Pippen went after Toni Kukoc and his Croatian squad?

- I liked Kelly Dwyer's take on Kobe following Game 5:

"You see, that Laker offense still hasn't risen from the depths. Sure, they put up 103 points overall (and 39 in the first quarter) against the best defense in basketball, but the Triangle as we knew it still hasn't returned. Kobe Bryant "set the tone early on" (come on) with 15 first quarter points including 12 off of three-pointers (4-5 mark), but those were crummy shots.

Kobe can nail long range bombs with the best of them, but pulling up off the dribble for fallaway 25-footers? Hardly setting a foundation to work off of. And people act surprised when he misses all four of his three-point attempts to finish the game. And his 3-13 shooting mark over the final three quarters, yeah, that was a result of having to work through an offense that Bryant (the game's most knowledgeable on-court Triangle offense practitioner) failed to set up in the opening minutes." - Kelly Dwyer

I definitely thought of that tonight. By the way I also thought the following during games 4 and 5: Kobe's trying to have his MJ versus the Blazers three pointers game.

- Remember during the All Star Break when J.A. Adande asked NBA players who they wanted to see win a championship besides themselves? Well Kevin Garnett and Steve Nash came up a lot. Only one guy refused to answer:

"There was one notable abstention in the voting: the ultra-competitive Kobe Bryant 'If it ain't us, I don't care,' Kobe said." - J.A. Adande

Well KG got his. And so did Allen, Allen, Pierce, Posey, Rondo, Perkins, Powe, and everyone else. Enough Kobe talk. Great job Celtics.

Before I go any further I'd be remiss if I did not bring up the whole Jemele Hill thing. She wrote an article (this is the edited one) in which she compared rooting for the Celtics to something to do with Hitler. Odd. The guys at Red's Army were all over it. Of course ESPN eventually apologized and edited it. Here's my thing. This is the same Jemele Hill that was outraged by Don Imus. At the time she said:

"Imus' comments were harmful to all women -- especially for female athletes who still struggle to gain acceptance in our society -- but they really cut black women deep...As a society, there are times when we need to stand together against indecency and cruelty." - Jemele Hill

Were Imus' comments worse? I guess. If I were a Jewish Celtics fan I might feel differently. And that's the thing with free speech. You can't have it both ways. If you're going to go after others be ready when someone comes after you. Personally I wish they left the column as it was. She wrote it, so be it. But should she have to take some time off before resurfacing? I would say no. But based upon the Imus precedent, yes. Free speech is a funny thing.

Back to the game. Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins will play. Of the two I feel better about Allen because I'm not sold on Perk's shoulder. He's a tough dude but his range of motion could be seriously limited.

Will Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol have big games again?

Will Rajon Rondo play well at home, as is his custom?

Will Paul Pierce be exhausted?

Can KG silence his critics?

Will Kobe score 40?

Obviously there are plenty of questions. Only time will tell. However, given the traveling both teams have done of late I expect an ugly game, particularly at the start. Hopefully the C's can battle through it. Here's to not seeing a game 7.