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IRISH COFFEE: WHAT JARED SULLINGER’S DECISION MEANS TO THE CELTICS’ FUTURE

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Over the weekend, when Ohio State freshman forward Jared Sullinger vowed to return to Columbus for his sophomore season, the thought struck me: Because of the uncertainty surrounding the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, could many college underclassmen be targeting 2012 rather than this year’s NBA draft?

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It sure looks that way, and that benefits the Celtics — considering they own their 2012 pick and the selection that came with Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic for Kendrick Perkins.

That pick from the Thunder is a little complicated. It’s top-10 protected and falls in the less favorable spot between the Clippers and Timberwolves. Basically, if either the Clips or Wolves capture any pick from 11-30, the lower one belongs to the Celtics. If both teams get top-10 picks, the pick gets pushed to the next season — until 2016, when it’s unprotected.

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Considering the Clippers own the eighth-worst record this season and should improve based on a young roster that includes Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon, there’s a legitimate chance the Celtics could own two picks in a draft that will be much better than anticipated.

Of the 40 college underclassmen projected as potential first-round picks, only three have declared to enter the 2011 NBA draft — and none of them is a lottery projection. Of course, the remaining 37 players have until April 24 to declare.

Still, two w0uld-be lottery guys (Sullinger and Texas freshman forward Tristan Thompson) are going back to school. According to ESPN.com’s Chad Ford, 23 of those 37 — and six potential lottery picks, including North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Arizona’s Derrick Williams and Kentucky’s Brandon Knight – are “50-50″ with less than a month to decide. The remaining 12 still reportedly have “one foot in the door.”

So, if half of those 50-50 guys – along with Sullinger and Thompson — wait until 2012, that could push as many as 15 more potential first-round picks to a draft that might also include Celtics coach Doc Rivers‘ son Austin Rivers. With possibly two picks in that draft, the C’s should be able to add some serious young talent for cheap dollars in 2012.
With a lockout looming, at least Celtics fans have something to look forward to.


Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to an ugly victory in his "second home" of Minneapolis. (AP)
KEVIN GARNETT: ‘LOSING AT HOME CAN’T HAPPEN’
Following the Celtics’ awful loss to the Bobcats on Friday and prior to their ugly win against the Timberwolves on Sunday, Kevin Garnett posted this on his Anta blog:
“Don’t know what to say. Team needs to get it together soon! Playoffs are coming and we’ve lost a few. I know that I’ve moved up the scoring list, but I’d rather win a championship. Losing at home can’t happen!”

Garnett recently passed Elgin Baylor and Adrian Dantley to move into 20th among the NBA’s all-time career scoring leaders. He ranks third behind Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant among active players with 23,204 career points.

Upon returning to the city where he scored the majority of his points, Garnett also had some pointed comments about the C’s in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
On chemistry: “I think the new guys are just adjusting to how we play. We do things all-out here.

We’re not casual with anything we do. We’re very aggressive, very firm here, and coming from the West Coast to the Eastern Conference is a transition.”On potential: “I’m very intrigued. I’ve seen it. I don’t think the world has seen it. We’ve yet to be full-throttle. But promising days are ahead. I’m very anxious to see what we’ll look like.”On Minneapolis: “This is my second home. I’ve always felt very at peace here. The fans have always treated me very dearly. … I still come here in the summertime.

I’m probably not downtown as much as y’all would like to see me, but believe me, I’m in the vicinity, I’m in the area, I’m on the lake doing what I usually do.”KURT RAMBIS: TRADE ‘GIVES DOC A LOT OF VERSATILITY’
The Timberwolves faced the Thunder and Celtics in back-to-back games over the weekend, so who better to comment on the after-effects of the Perkins deal?

Minnesota head coach Kurt Rambis — who’s probably not a Celtics fan — did just that in another Star Tribune interview, and his comments were more than positive:
“Now it gives Doc a lot of versatility, particularly with Rondo out there, to space the floor. He can put people out there who can open the floor a lot better and now it makes it very, very tough for teams to clog up the lane. If you had Perkins out there, it allows somebody to stay in the lane.”

RAJON RONDO: QUESTIONABLE
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo reportedly did not play against the Timberwolves on Sunday night “because of a strained right pinky finger” that has bothered him for much of the season. Apparently, the finger got hit during Saturday’s practice.

Rondo remains day-to-day and questionable for Monday night’s game against the Pacers. Meanwhile, Jermaine O’Neal is expected to join the team in Indiana. He could suit up for the Celtics as soon as Thursday’s game against the Spurs.

Who's in, who's out of 2011 draft?

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This is the time of year when college players begin to declare their intentions for the NBA draft.
For the most part, information received this time of year is fairly unreliable. Many players say they're staying in school, only to change their minds after the season and once agents get into their ear.

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The general rule is that if a player is projected as a lottery pick, his chances of declaring for the draft are very high. There are always exceptions. Oklahoma's Blake Griffin and, more recently, North Carolina's Ed Davis both passed on being top-three picks to return for another year of school in 2008 and 2009, respectively.Two factors may complicate that picture this year.
First is the NCAA's new rules on "testing the waters."

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College underclassmen and international players who don't turn 22 this year have until April 24 to declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft. However, under the NCAA's new rules, underclassmen who want to retain their college eligibility have until May 8 to withdraw from the draft. In previous years, the NCAA followed the NBA's guidelines that gave underclassmen until mid-June to decide. The NBA will retain their June 15 withdrawal date, but for any college players who want to keep their eligibility, May 8 is the new date.
This new rule dramatically reduces the time college underclassmen have to determine their draft stock. The deadline takes place before the NBA's draft combine. The NBA starts holding private workouts on April 29 to give players a short window to determine their draft stock before the NCAA's window expires.
Last year, 80 college players and 23 international players declared as early entry candidates. Forty-eight of them withdrew from the draft. That left 50 college players and five international players as the early entry candidates.
The second factor is a looming NBA lockout. While the draft will go on as scheduled, regardless of the potential lockout, it could scare off players who don't want to be in limbo much of the year. While teams will be allowed to draft players, they won't be able to sign them until the owners and players work out a new collective bargaining agreement. That means they won't be paid until a new labor deal is struck. If the negotiations last into the fall or, in a worst-case scenario, the whole season, many players may wish they had stayed in college.
But will it deter them from declaring? The NFL had a similar situation this year and the answer was a big no. The league had a huge number of underclassmen that declared. While some NBA agents are wringing their hands a bit, most GMs in the league think it will have only a small impact on who decides to skip this year's draft.
Who's in and who's out this year? Insider spoke with a number of NBA executives, scouts, NBA player agents and individuals close to players making the decision to come up with this list.
We'll update the list over the course of the next six weeks.

Magic star Howard's huge flaw is no technicality

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Dwight Howard can't win. Whatever happens next, it's a lose-lose proposition for the best big man in the NBA.
As well it should be. Because this is his fault.
After picking up his 16th technical foul in 63 games, reaching the NBA's single-season threshold and being automatically suspended for Monday night against Portland, Howard is screwed. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. And hallelujah for that, because this is a problem of his own creation.

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By reaching that 16-tech limit, Howard faces a suspension for every second technical he picks up the rest of the season. After Monday, the Magic will have 18 games left -- troubling, because Howard has been averaging one tech every four games. That translates to four over the final 18, which would mean missing two more games. Games down the stretch. Games the Magic, currently in fourth in the Eastern Conference, might need for seeding (to catch third-place Miami) or for home-court advantage (to hold off No. 5 Atlanta).Those are 18 huge games, but Howard probably will miss two more between Tuesday and the end of the regular season.
Unless ...
Unless he can control himself. Unless he can stop drawing technicals at his ridiculous rate. That's the conundrum facing Howard:

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• If he controls himself and doesn't get four technicals in the next 18 games -- or shoots high and avoids even two more technicals -- he stays eligible for the stretch run. But that would make everyone wonder why he couldn't show restraint before now.
• If he doesn't control himself, if he picks up the four technicals his pace suggests he will draw, he would miss two more crucial games. Making everyone wonder why he can't grow up already.
See? He can't win. Nor should he. Dwight Howard is no victim here, so don't be gullible. Don't be ridiculous. Yes, he's a charismatic guy with a handsome face, cartoon body, glowing smile and explosive dunks.
All of which tends to obscure the fact that Dwight Howard is, in fact, a dirty player.
Sixteen technical fouls in 63 games? That doesn't lie, folks. That's Rasheed-like. That's Stephen Jackson territory. Kevin Garnett. Ron Artest. Show me a crude player, and I'll show you a guy who picks up a technical foul every fourth game. That's Dwight Howard.

Howard's fans will say he's victimized by officials or the league, but that's what fans do. They ignore evidence against their hero, evidence like this: Howard has actually been called for 20 technicals this season. Four were rescinded by the league. So even if officials do have it in for Howard, every technical they call -- on Howard, on anybody -- gets reviewed by the league. Four have been overturned. You know what that means?
It means 16 were not.
Howard's fans will say the NBA spoils its accepted stars, sexy wing players like Carmelo and Kobe, and that a big man like Howard can't get away with anything. To which I would say: First, Howard is an accepted star, too. The NBA gains nothing from his suspension from Monday's game. The NBA is hurt by it.
And, second, here are the seven players with the most technical fouls this season, all accepted stars: Howard, Amar'e Stoudemire (15), Kobe Bryant (11), Carmelo Anthony (10), Chauncey Billups (10) and Kevin Garnett (10). How many is that, six? Oh right. Well, six accepted stars. And one idiot: Stephen Jackson (14).
Other stars in the top 20 for technicals, with at least six: Blake Griffin, Richard Hamilton, Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook.
Howard also is tied for the league lead in flagrant fouls with three. Two more, and he misses a game. So for anyone out there who thinks the offensively limited Dwight Howard isn't versatile enough, I would point out that he has found two different ways to get himself suspended for important games.
No, three different ways. Don't forget the 2009 playoffs against the 76ers, when Howard was suspended for Game 6 -- fairly important game, right? -- after trying to split open Samuel Dalembert's face with an elbow from hell. Watch it for yourself. Howard, of course, said afterward that, "I didn't intend to hurt anyone."
Maybe he thinks his elbows are made of Silly Putty.
Howard was slinging those baby-soft elbows last week against Chicago, when he picked up his 16th technical. He rose for a dunk and was stopped by Kyle Korver, who grabbed his arm. It was a blatant foul, intentional as could be, but it wasn't malicious or dirty. It happens in the NBA. What happened next? Howard threw a tantrum, and his elbows, swinging all of them -- with the ball extended -- in Korver's face. Here it is (1:15 mark).
Some wonder whether Howard's suspension Monday should hurt his MVP candidacy. A colleague of mine says no.
Me, I say yes. Absolutely it should hurt Howard's MVP candidacy. On the one hand, Howard is clearly one of the NBA's two or three most valuable players, right up there with Derrick Rose and (sigh) LeBron James. Maybe Kevin Durant belongs for his scoring, and Rajon Rondo for everything else. Whatever the case, Howard is having an MVP-type season at 23.1 points per game, 13.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 60 percent shooting from the floor.
But a player that good, that valuable, cannot be getting himself suspended for a game in March simply because he can't control his temper. It can't happen. And since it did happen, it can't be rewarded with MVP votes.
And maybe it won't happen again. Maybe Howard will go the final 18 games with just one technical foul, avoiding a second tech that would cause him to miss another game. If he pulls that off, don't give him applause. Give him grief. Because if he can control himself now, why couldn't he control himself then?

Fan reaction: Celtics’ win over Warriors makes up for lackluster All-Star weekend

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February 22 marked Rajon Rondo's(notes) birthday, and the Boston Celtics point guard got a pretty good present in the team's 115-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Not only that, but he left the court with a double-double, scoring 19 points and getting 15 assists. Rondo's points tally matched the Warriors' highest scorer, Dorrell Wright, but Rondo was by no means the Cs' points leader.

Kevin Garnett(notes) and Paul Pierce(notes) had 24 and 23 points respectively, KG also getting a double-double. He, Rondo, and Glen Davis(notes) all had double-doubles, which should ease any soreness fans might have had after All-Star Weekend. I'll readily admit to All-Star disappointment, thankfully erased after Tuesday's game. KG's solid minutes were a welcome sight considering that fans could've blinked and missed him on the court in LA on Sunday.
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I definitely had my fair share of anxiety after what was a fairly lackluster appearance in LA. While Tuesday had the green and white back on track towards the NBA Finals, they certainly didn't look like the leaders of the Eastern Conference over the weekend. The highly anticipated 3-point shootout saw a last-minute upset for both Pierce and recently minted 3-point king Ray Allen(notes). The All-Star game itself had two guys we Boston fans love to hate, Kobe Bryant(notes) and LeBron James(notes), easily grab the limelight, with the Cs' big four barely making a dent.

The win in Oakland was exactly what fans needed to see. Yes, the first half was iffy, thanks in no small part to some uneven minutes from the bench. I know plenty of Celtics fans who are usually quick to point the finger at Baby, but Davis gets high marks from me this time around. Davis was the clear stand-out from the bench, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and made two of three from the line as well as five of 10 from the field. Even the arguably under-appreciated Nate Robinson(notes) had an okay performance, scoring seven points in 17 minutes, the most he's had since suffering a knee injury on the tenth.
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Uneven bench aside, it's clear that Doc Rivers came off of the All-Star loss with obvious focus on the rest of the season, and it showed on Tuesday at Oakland. The Celtics' win at Oracle Arena was their first since 2003. While the 26-30 Warriors aren't exactly one of the NBA's dominant teams, their loss at home is sweet revenge for this Celtics fan. Booed by Californians on the court during the All-Star game, it was nice seeing the Celtics topple a hometown team on California soil.

*Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.