Avery Bradley: Playoff experience would help Boston Celtics 'a lot'

A likeable group. They represent the Celtics well, and will be fun to watch in the coming years.

"The Celtics aren't playing perfect basketball, but they are improving, giving themselves chances to win, and capitalizing on those chances. If they do reach the playoffs, nobody will fear them."

I guess it depends on your definition of the word fear, but I'll guess a lot of teams won't look forward to playing the Celtics.

Hi Bob,
No, sorry to say I've been caught up in grad school and have hardly any time for the last three years or so. Plus, I live in Hawaii and Celtic games aren't shown out here very often. But I follow this group almost daily, just to keep updated. Good site!

Ha! I should follow your example - the TV is such a distraction at times. Love your post-game analyses, by the way.

Hey, Improbulus, it's great to see you posting.  What's your major?  I envy you at grad school.  My life is full, but one of the things I most miss is school.

We'll be happy to see you whenever you can squeeze the time.  And all the best in your program.

Sam

Of course playoff experience would help the Celtics.  Getting a feel of how rewarding success can be could never hurt.  Ending the season as a playoff team lends a certain degree of momentum heading toward the offseason and next season, even if they're one and done.  The thought that anything else could replace playoff experience is just a laugh!

Sam

Hi Sam - I'm in the History doctoral program at the University of Hawaii. Teaching and taking seminars and working all at the same time, so hardly any time for leisure activities. But I can always spare a few minutes to catch up on the Celtics.

Improbulus,

You're obviously tightly in the bosom of academia.  I expect almost every involvement and interaction you have is academically related.  That form of total immersion, with an extremely positive target in sight, is often a once-in-a-lifetime (or even never-in-a-lifetime) experience.

I truly envy you that focus, with constant reinforcement of your aspirations coming from every direction.  It will never be far below your consciousness as long as you live.  And I bet there will be many occasions on which you will miss it, despite the energy drain that can be involved.  You probably don't need me to advise you to soak up every minute of the triumphs, and even the pitfalls, that collectively will always represent one of your crowning achievements.

Care to share the title of your Dissertation?

Sam

Sam, I haven't taken my comprehensive exams yet, but as far as the title of the dissertation, it's tentatively: Citizen Soldiers: Capitalism, Criminality, and the American Militia Tradition. Still working on it, though. The title may change as the work progresses and focus changes.

"Disspelling another myth of racism - when Jewish players were the best in basketball."

That's one history dissertation I'd like to read..
because, you know,they once were. I read too often that Afro-Americans are great at basketball because of genetics and way too little respect is given for the many, many, many hours they spend practicing - because in too many cases it's their only opportunity to pursue and express excellence.

Improbulus - if you are investigating criminality, check out Kevin Drum's writings in Mother Jones anout the role lead poisoning plays. He refers to the research done by an Amherst prof. Very convincing.

Thanks for the lead, Worcester. I'll definitely check it out.

It's paradigm changing work when it comes to what underlies criminal behavior AND teenage pregnancies.

Improbulus,

Wow!  To the uninitiated, it sounds as though you're writing a history of the world.  Very comprehensive, and absolutely fascinating, I'm sure.  If it helps any, when I was age 12, I witnessed the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and I'm available for interviews.  Will fly.  But a plane trip is preferred.

Sam

Sam, I'm sure that it would be very a great sacrifice to give up all the snow - what did you get, something like 6 feet in the last month? But it's been freezing over here too - in the 50s!! (I'm only partially kidding - we really do think that's freezing)

Improbulus,

We've had 86 inches on Cape Cod.  I know what you mean about it seeming colder after your blood thins in a warmer climate.  The coldest I ever remember being was in the middle of a March night in Georgia when I was in the Army.  It was a damp cold that went right through your bones.  And the red Georgia clay froze like tiny waves n the ocean that we had to negotiate on our hands and knees about two feet under live machine gun fire on the infiltration course.

Are you converted?  Will you remain in Hawaii after your collegiate experience?

Sam

I was born here, so I suppose you could call me converted. The 9 years I lived in Boston were fantastic ones - right during the Bird years. Talk about basketball heaven! My Sunday routine would be to wake up early, go find all the sports papers, magazines, the Globe, the Herald. Walk to a good restaurant and sit and have breakfast while reading everything I could find on the Celtics. Those were the times!

Improbobulus,

So I gather you're not the typical 25-year-old doctoral student.  All the more power to you.  Your Boston time does sound idyllic.

Sam