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Red's Army

Your Morning Dump… Where we help ESPN Boston see the future

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Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Safe to say, the start of training camp can’t come soon enough. But in the meantime, Chris Forsberg, long-time Celtics beat writer for ESPN Boston, is publishing his annual Celtics Summer Forecast. Chris has reached out to his friends here at Red’s Army and those at other blogs for our opinions on a variety of Celtics topics for 2015-16.

The series began on August 17 and will continue through September 4, covering 15 topics over 15 weekdays. If you missed any installments and want to catch up, below are links to the first eight forecast topics that had appeared through yesterday. Keep up with the rest of the series by visiting espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics.

1. Just wins, baby – How many games will the Celtics win during the 2015-16 regular season?

2. Finish line in sight – How far will the Celtics advance this season?

3. Who’s gone by October? – Which player is least likely to be on the opening-night roster?

4. Center of attention – Who will start at center this season?

5. IT department – Will Isaiah Thomas be a long-term starter for Boston during the 2015-16 season?

6. Who makes instant impact? – Which Boston rookie will have the biggest impact during the 2015-16 season?

7. Star search – Which Boston player is most likely to earn an All-Star nod during the 2015-16 season?

8. Leap year – Which Boston Celtics player is most likely to have a breakout season?

On Page 2: Who’s this new guy?

Our friends at GangGreenTV welcome a new correspondent.

On Page 3: Tell us your rule-change ideas

​If you were commissioner for a day, what rule changes would you make to the NBA? Get rid of Hack-a-Shaq? Add a four-point line? Make games shorter? With the off-season in full swing and our imaginations running wild, SI.com paneled its NBA experts to discuss what changes they would make if they were in Adam Silver’s shoes.

Sports IllustratedRoundtable: What rule change would you like to see adopted in the NBA?

There was plenty of talk last season about potential rule changes, especially as we watched DeAndre Jordan clank has gazillionth free throw. The suggestion here is to eliminate the block/charge circle. The introduction of the “smiley face,” as Cedric Maxwell calls it, completely changed the way defense is played. The block/charge call used to be rare, but now drawing charges is a strategy — which also gives referees more influence, and that’s never good.

We invite you to use the comments to describe any rule changes you’d like to see.

And, finally… Tommy Point

Belated happy birthday to the personification of Celtics Pride. He came to Boston in 1956 and has done it all. Considering how quickly things can change in sports broadcasting (see: Orsillo, Don), we’re lucky Tommy and Mike Gorman have been together so long. Tommy may be the NBA’s biggest homer, but he’s our homer.

The Rest of the Links:

MassLiveAmir Johnson drains long jumper while riding PhunkeeDuck (video) | Very early, ESPN’s Chad Ford projects Malik Pope, Ivan Rabb and Zhou Qi to Boston Celtics | CSNNENBA Notes: League figures into presidential politics | Former Celtics forward Lou Tsioropoulos dies at 84 | Celtics.comCeltics Statement on Passing of Lou Tsioropoulos

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  • Fitzy

    I think the NBA should add in the 1 and 1 like college. Makes the hack-a-shaq more entertaining and free throws MORE important.

    • Curt Hays

      That would be a simple one that would solve a problem.

      • Fitzy

        Also change the foul limit to 6 becuase logically the colege game has a 35 second shot clock and 5 foul limit. more poseesions and a faster more aggresive game in the NBA, you need that extra foul.

        • KGino

          Foul limit in the NBA is 6, fitzy

          • Fitzy

            silly me, i knew that, when does basketball start again!!

  • RedsLoveChild

    Eliminate the concept of “fouling-out”.
    Treat each personal foul after #5 as a technical foul….2 FT`s and possession.

    • Curt Hays

      Can you imagine what this would do if you had Paul Pierce (IT4 would be awesome for this too) on your team? He’d have guys with so many fouls and he’d score so many points.

      It would totally change who is on the court at the end of games.

      • RedsLoveChild

        Technicals are plenty harsh enough…..completely “banning” a player from participating any longer is way too severe, particularly a star player that people paid good money to see.

    • MJ

      Technically thats a flagrant foul but I like that idea!

      • RedsLoveChild

        You`re right…..flagrant “1”

    • KGino

      Give the refs more influence… Brilliant!

      • RedsLoveChild

        Refs already have the ultimate influence.

        It`s the power to put a player in “early foul-trouble”, which forces said player to sit on the bench for very significant minutes….before being sent home for foul #6!

        Very brilliant argument, “Guest”….keep bringing a knife to a gun fight!!

        • KGino

          1.) News flash: I didn’t say refs in every sport didn’t have great influence… So that sentence was pointless. What did that have to do with anything?

          2.) Last time I checked, a shot from in front of the 3 point line is worth 2 points and a shot behind it is worth 3. Thank you, Captain Obvious.

          3.) So Team A is down 5 with 2 minutes to go… Team B player with 5 fouls contacts Team A player at the rim… And is called for his 6th foul. Team A now has a chance to TIE THE GAME IN ONE POSSESSION even though they’re down FIVE! And you don’t think this gives the refs MORE influence? Not to mention coaches would still consider somebody with 5 fouls on the floor a liability for that exact reason and probably sit them anyways.

          Now that’s how you argue. You don’t just say stupid meaningless things then go “BOOM! You brought a knife to a gunfight!” If that was the case I’d be stabbing the crap outta you and taking your gun that I haven’t seen you use yet lol. Also, if your computer shows me as guest, you got a messed up computer.

          • RedsLoveChild

            And as rules currently exist, you see the refs having LESS influence over outcomes….even though Team B player must now exit the court for the remainder of the game, not to mention OT?!?

            This is a guy who his coach views as a very “essential” player, given that he`s on the floor at crunch time with 5 fouls!

            Hope you get plenty of blog support on that one….then, your fragile ego won`t take a hit, and you`ll be spared from once again going through the bother of switching your name from “KGino” to “Guest”!

          • KGino

            Yes, I see them having less influence now… (notice how I answer your questions directly)… That 5 point play was just for the player from Team B’s first offense! Now on his 7th foul, they get two more points and the ball! Suddenly the refs have the ability to make a truly GAME ALTERING SWING just by calling a few bogus fouls and you don’t think that’s more influence??

            What if the player from Team B commits a reach in foul on the Point Guard for his 6th foul… Instead of just fouling out and the other team taking it from out of bounds, now they get 2 shots, and the ball for a non shooting foul?? That’s ridiculous! The refs could swing games in a HUGE way that was never possible before.

            Hope you get plenty of support from your quack… Still bringing up things from a year ago that never happened (and if it did, you could prove it to me). But you won’t because it never happened! You are a psycho that you think about that as much as you do. Absolute psycho.

          • RedsLoveChild

            What`s ridiculous is your logic {or lack of it}, which certainly doesn`t surprise me at this point.

            Remember, we`re using your scenario.
            To be on the floor with 5 fouls, 2 minutes left, up by 5…should immediately lead any clear thinking person to believe that Team B player is pretty damn vital, and the game is a big one. This might as well be Jordan in `96 or Kobe in `06.

            Under what I would prefer to see :
            Jordan commits his 6th, Team A shoots 2 FT`s {no guarantee they make 2 or 1 or 0 FT`s}, they get the ball {no guarantee they score or miss or turn it over}, Jordan stays in the game for the final 2 minutes {as well as any or all OT periods}. In short, the players decide the outcome…Jordan gets to play, and Team A must make use of the opportunity and actually score, which is no given especially if a fucking loser like Rondo is shooting those FT`s!

            Under what currently exists :
            The refs have sent Jordan home, and Chicago better win in regulation because they have little shot of doing it in OT with MJ.

            Yet, you still feel the refs have less impact on the outcome under the current rules??
            Ask Team A if they prefer seeing Jordan gone for good, or they prefer getting that one measly extra possession where anything can happen, be it good or bad.

            As for the other bullshit, don`t even go there.
            You know and I know that you`re completely obsessed with how others view you. You actually think you “matter”. You`ve written in the past how you average the most comment approvals {something I can assure you nobody here even knows such concept exists, let alone care about}.

            You`re pissed as hell that I caught you switching your name to “Guest”, all because something you wrote under “KGino” got you no love, and it would lower your precious average approval!

            I`m lucky, I only get to deal with your insanity and emotional immaturity when you choose to challenge something I post here. It`s the poor unfortunate bastards in your everyday day life that I feel for!

          • KGino

            Again, point me in the direction of this comment that I changed from my name to guest. You can’t. Also, I was trolling you with avg likes per comment bc you clearly care about how much love I get on here compared to you. Also, Jordan an Kobe and Lebron are always fouling out aren’t they?? Try watching a game for once

          • RedsLoveChild

            WTF are you yapping about now???

            Unlike you, I most certainly do NOT come here for love!

            I come here to speak my mind on the Celts and the NBA. If people agree, fine. If they hate me or what I write, that`s fine, too. It`s not gonna change my day. Life is beautiful!

            I write a thousand times more “anti-Ainge” comments on this blog than all other Celtic fans here combined. You think I`m expecting love when I write them??

            As for you—whose delusional psychopathy has him believing that mass suicide would occur if readers of this blog were deprived of his insights—here`s an experiment you can try :

            Go 2 weeks without posting anything. See how many will cry out that they miss you, wondering where you`ve gone, calling for your return, mentioning your name, etc. Trust me, you`ll hear “crickets”.

            Stick one foot in an empty bucket…fill that bucket with H2O….now, remove your foot.
            The amount of time it`ll take the water to fill the space where your foot was, will equal the amount of time it will take to forget you amongst those who “love” you here.

          • KGino

            What am I yapping about now? Nothing that you directed your response at as usual. You’re like the Neo of commenting, constantly dodging my arguments (bullets). And then bringing up something completely irrelevant. Sorry sir but you are awarded no points, and everyone in this room is now dumber for having read your comment. May god have mercy on your soul

          • RedsLoveChild

            Dodging your arguments?!?

            Everyone knows that`s your standard “go-to reply”…..after you`ve been beaten to a pulp, and can`t think of anything else to say!!!

            Pathetic little weasel.

          • KGino

            Beaten to a pulp! LOL! I’ll have what you’re smoking!

            Yes that’s my go to response because in case you don’t know, that’s how a debate/argument is supposed to happen… One person raises a fact or opinion, the other has a chance to rebuttal. But instead, you cower away like a little b****, and that’s what we call a troll. You are nothing but a pathetic troll. Dip, duck, dodge, dive, dodge, you woulda made a hell of a dodgeball player

          • RedsLoveChild

            Upon further review….instead of getting beaten to a pulp, you were totally pulverized! Demolished to an extent that even I feel a bit sorry for you.

            Keep talking in vague generalities, keep talking about “dodging” arguments, etc. All your sulking, pouting, crying, and fake bravado cannot change reality.

            My words are out there, as are yours. Any reasonable person who chooses to read the two sides of the argument will know that….. I presented a very detailed argument and thorough example of why fouling-out should be eliminated.
            You added nothing, you had nothing to say, other than the final, beaten, desperate cry of a loser.

            Seriously, “dodging the argument” is the best you can come up with?!? That`s it? No attempt to even explain what argument I was allegedly avoiding?

            In your everyday life, who the hell are you beating in arguments that has given you reason to think you actually have debating skills? Pre-schoolers? Golden retrievers?

            No kidding people have tuned out ages ago from this thread…about 3, 4 days ago….keep those brilliant insights coming.

            You might have noticed that they long ago installed an “edit” option for all comments. They expect people to use it. That`s normal.
            What`s not normal, and what they did NOT install was a “post name” option. Yes, that certainly would make your favorite pastime much easier!!

            See you in hell!

          • KGino

            Lol, so you are saying you don’t avoid points/facts/direct questions I ask you every single time we argue? And you’re saying that we didn’t just discuss why giving the refs the ability to make foul calls 6 and 7 (or 8) on a player and swing the game by a double digit margin is bad idea?? Or that players of the caliber you’re mentioning RARELY foul out?Yup I guess I had nothing to say, either that or you don’t know how to read.

            Seriously, what are you smoking? An example of you dodging in this particular thread? (I could go back to our previous arguments and find DOZENS UPON DOZENS of examples)… You really need one because you’re that dumb? Okay, how about pointing me in the direction of this “name change” you keep harping on (I know you dream about it every night, psycho)! You avoided that in EVERY SINGLE RESPONSE EVEN THOUGH I ASKED YOU MORE THAN ONCE!!! Lol, dip, dive, duck, dodge, and then pretend you won the argument! It must be great living in fantasy land with all the other trolls.

            Just keep wasting your time editing comments no one will read, I know you have nothing better to do with your pathetic life!

          • RedsLoveChild

            KGuest,

            If ever there was a thread you never should have wanted “KGino” associated with, this is the one! This is the one you should be changing to “Guest”! It`s not to late, I`m very surprised you haven`t.

            Getting crushed in a debate must suck. Having to turn to diversions, distractions {like falsely claiming one is dodging your arguments} must suck, too. .

            I realize you`re impulsive/emotional, and you don`t always think your argument all the way thru before writing. The downside is that you find yourself going to war w/o ammo. Then you`re left to using diversionary tactics, hoping to turn the focus elsewhere. It`s the oldest desperate trick in the book.

            Here, you wanted to point out the refs would have even more power if the foul-out rule was eliminated, which alone is bizarre since what could be more of a “power tool” for refs than fouling-out a star player??? And they do foul out. Russell, MJ, Kobe, Bird, Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes were all pretty decent players…they fouled-out a total of 197 times!!

            You put forth an example….2 minutes left in a 5 point game.
            You`re trying to show that giving a team just 1 little measly extra possession, with 120 seconds left in regulation, will INCREASE the refs` power over the outcome of a game….rather than fouling-out a star player with 2 full minutes left in regulation and all of OT?!? This is beyond insanity!

            Keep this rule in mind….Use an example that helps your argument, not weaken it.
            If you had set the game clock at 2 SECONDS left in regulation {instead of 2 minutes} you`re argument might have made sense.

  • Curt Hays

    So far I see two rules that are both free throw-based. That sounds like a hot topic.

    The only other rule I thought of was the restricted zone, but that was in the dump.

    Keep the ideas flowing, guys.

  • Jack Howland

    Somehow deal with the last two minutes taking 30 minutes. Maybe fewer timeouts? I suppose it’s a TV thing, ultimately.

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  • Tom Webster

    Make a shot inside the smiley face one point.

  • zippittyay

    Isn’t it still against the rules to steal the tip when the ball is on it’s way up?

  • zippittyay

    Replace the Slam Dunk Contest with an 8 player 1 on 1 knockout contest.

  • KGino

    Eliminate the charge all together and stop calling fouls so long as the defender stays vertical.