Observations from Monday night’s Boston Celtics – Utah Jazz game:

Note: all images obtained from a Google image search at google.com

·         My first blog column was about how F Jeff Green will be a nice addition in Boston.  Unfortunately, he and Doc aren’t exactly making me look like a genius.  Why exactly is coach Doc Rivers not using his new toy? He only played 17 minutes in his first game in green (no pun intended).  And in his 2^nd game, while he somehow ended up with 27 minutes (really not sure how that happened, since that number was at 7 in the 3^rd quarter), he still only scored 5 points on 2-6 shooting.  I do understand it’ll take time to get him acclimated (it was a point I made in my first column).  But still, for the sake of the starters, give this kid some run.  He can play.

Chin up, big fella.

·         Jazz PG Devin Harris has at least one “are-you-KIDDING-me” moment every single night it seems.  He has to be one of the most underappreciated players in the game.  He’s 13.2 point-per-game career scorer, chipping in 5 boards and a decent 44% clip from the field, and has absolutely incredible speed in the open floor (he had some John Wall-esque drives on Monday night).  But it begs the question: why has he been traded twice in his career, three times if you count the 2004 draft-day trade?

New kids on the block.

·         Derrick Favors had a couple “WOAH!!” dunks, out of the Blake Griffin playbook.  If he turns out to be worth that #3 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Jazz fans will be saying “Deron who?” in just a couple short seasons.

·         Doc is in the process of severely burning out his starters right now.  Out of a possible 240 minutes, Boston’s starting 5 played 176 of those, including PG Rajon Rondo’s 42. Delonte West rode the pine from start to finish thanks to a sprained ankle, and the rookie from Texas, Avery Bradley, got off the bench just long enough to sit back down again (2 minutes).  Let’s just say the absence of C Kendrick Perkins and G Nate Robinson are noticeable right now.  Mike Bibby signing with Miami yesterday hurts too after being bought out by Washington hurt too.

·         C’s fans: why did Rondo ditch the head band?  Was he really that upset when the league forbid him from wearing it with the logo on upside-down?  I miss it; it was a nice look.

Rajon! Bring the headband back!

·         Rondo’s jumper has not even remotely improved since he came into the league.  He also shoots a shockingly-bad 62% from the free-throw line.  This continues to be a huge weakness in the Boston offense, one that could be a huge difference in May and June.  Fortunately, his jumper with 24 seconds to go iced the game for Boston.

·         RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY ALLENNNNNNNNNNN FORRRRRRRRRRRRR THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Hahaha, I never get tired of that.

·          KG has gotten be number one trash-talker in the NBA.  I don’t even think it’s up for discussion.  I guess we must have just either a) not noticed or b) not cared when he was in Minnesota, because it’s not like this is something new and unique to Boston.  I’ll never forget watching him in the ’04 West finals when, on a replay, the camera would zoom in on him as he’s running down the court in slow motion with him mouthing expletives.  Always comical.

Settle down, KG. It can't be THAT big a deal.

·         It remains to be seen how the Jazz will score consistently in crunch-time.  The Celtics immediately doubled Al Jefferson, and Devin Harris (30% career from 3) missed a potential go-ahead 3 with 2 minutes to go.  If Jefferson can’t beat double-teams either by spinning away before it gets there, or making accurate passes to create plays for others, the Jazz may lose more close games than they win.

·         Ray Allen: best pure shooter in the history of the league.  Book it.