Look Out Rondo, Here Comes Sam I Am
The Clippers finally waived Sam Cassell yesterday, and the 38-year old point guard is expected to be scooped off the waiver wire (for the veteran’s minimum) on Monday by the Boston Celtics.
He’ll come off the bench to spell Rajon Rondo for now, but come Playoff time, the Celtics will likely entrust him with the ball in crucial, pressure-packed situations. Rondo, to his credit, doesn’t see the addition of the veteran point guard as a threat.
Even Rondo appeared to welcome the possibility of a Cassell addition following Wednesday’s win over Cleveland when he said, “He could help me. He’s been in the game a long time and he knows a lot. Any veteran point guard would be a great addition, but that’s not my decision.”
Assuming Sam stays healthy, this has to be considered a win-win situation for the C’s. As well as Rondo has played this season - and for a 22-year old kid, he’s played exemplary ball - no Celtics supporter would feel completely safe with him at the wheel in the postseason.
Cassell will provide the needed veteran leadership, and even more importantly, he’ll (giddily, no doubt) relish the opportunity to match crunch time shots with someone like Chauncey Billups in a Playoff series.
45 Responses to “Look Out Rondo, Here Comes Sam I Am”
Feb.29 at 10:02 am
riggs says:
hopefuly he can help him become like dwade, get thrown down 7 times get up 8…..
Feb.29 at 10:16 am
Tariq says:
So, I have a question with some overlap: According to Khalid’s definition, does this make Sam a Gollum?
Feb.29 at 10:18 am
CoolWhip11 says:
As long as I see the ‘I have big balls’ dance then I’m happy.
Feb.29 at 10:22 am
Slick Nick Da Ruler says:
Great pickup
Feb.29 at 10:23 am
BETCATS says:
just like Kendrick isnt scared PJ is gonna take his spot.
Feb.29 at 10:38 am
thesubwayconnection says:
Because they’re not. Both of these guys won’t play more than 25 minutes a game. They’re old, they don’t want to get hurt, and Doc wants to maximize their effectiveness.
Feb.29 at 10:44 am
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
PJ and now Sammy Sack - great pickups for the Celts.
Feb.29 at 10:46 am
BETCATS says:
peak a bo Leprecaun
Feb.29 at 10:48 am
Randy Brown says:
goddamit. Just plain goddamit!
Feb.29 at 10:52 am
nick says:
I like it. Sam is a smart guy…he’ll find his roll and likely help rondo develop. he’ll also crush opponents with his giant, giant balls.
Feb.29 at 10:57 am
Krayzie Bone says:
Tariq, Sam is gollum because he has jagged teeth, appears to be closing in on his 500th birthday, and has the body of a famine victim (or Keon Clark).
Feb.29 at 11:12 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Um, Gollum was my term. Also, will the C’s be hiring a geriatric nurse to take care of Sammy and P.J.?
Feb.29 at 11:15 am
rvr says:
is that pruitt goes back to the nbdl, scal rides the bench, and house never has to run the point again, except in injury situations. i definitely want to see powe get consistent minutes, he’s been coming up huge. and davis too, he’s a great guy when we need someone to bang and bring some energy.
i’m a giant rondo fan, but i think this is good for the club, and hopefully for rondo. the most important factor, and my only significant concern, is doc rivers and his penchant for odd rotations. if rondo loses significant minutes (he’s averaging 30, which seems right) then i’ll be very unhappy. he’s playing fantastic ball, given his age and experience level. what this should mean, if rivers handles it well (as if i’m qualified to be an nba coach
Feb.29 at 11:16 am
The exterminator says:
I think this’ll b good 4 the C’s because Rondo is already pretty good but with tht vertrean leadership he can b 10 times better in the future.
Feb.29 at 11:20 am
Krayzie Bone says:
Be fair Russ, they are only 40. Someone will have to keep them away from the favourite drug of choice for the middle aged, a 9-iron.
Feb.29 at 11:24 am
the birdman says:
Do you really want Sam taking crunch time shots when you’ve got P-Double and Ray Ray? Hopefully Sam doen’t expect to be the number one option in any situation.
Feb.29 at 11:27 am
Tariq says:
Oh, sorry, Russ. I suspected it could have been someone other than Khalid. Khalid’s the dancer/Eagles fan, right? Who’s the guy who Lang used to make fun because he never updated his blog?
Feb.29 at 11:28 am
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
PJ might be running on fumes, but Sammy Sack is running on never ending quantities of man-juice. He can easily keep it up!
Feb.29 at 11:34 am
bobby stew says:
My NBA final four
Celtics Pistons
Suns Spurs Sam I Am (green eggs and ham)
Feb.29 at 11:37 am
Tom says:
so did Sam give up the 2 mil or not?
Feb.29 at 11:45 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Tariq: That would be me.
Feb.29 at 11:55 am
B. Long says:
if the Celts do get a ring there should be a stipulation in Sam’s contract that he may only refer to it as “MY PRECIOUS!”.
Feb.29 at 11:56 am
Bruno - Brasil says:
great add for the c’s rondo is playin great but cassel can even help him to improve, but… no way sammy can guard billups and garnett will have a lot to worry in the defensive end to be helping on billups too
boston would love if big ben was still there… garnett free to double everybody
Feb.29 at 11:57 am
cdro says:
i like this move. it gives cassell alot of room to operate. he’ll probably be wide-open in the playoffs when they’re double teaming peirce and garnett. it gives cassell and (ray) allen wide-open shots.
Feb.29 at 12:08 pm
Tariq says:
Russ: Everything’s a blur since Tony Gervino left!
Feb.29 at 12:10 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And while Sam Cassell IS Gollum, he’s not A Gollum, as a) he’s moved around a lot, and b) he’s already won a championship.
Feb.29 at 12:12 pm
Joel O's says:
I agree with you guys. Most importantly, this can only help Rondo. Sam probably only has another year or two in his tank, so Rajon’s not gonna be losing any minutes long term. And what better mentor can Rajon have than the wily Cassell?
Feb.29 at 12:21 pm
Tariq says:
Good points, Russ.
Feb.29 at 12:57 pm
Captain America says:
But I thought Sam had a bad ankle, wrist, testicle, etc. etc.? If he is (ehem) healthy, he could put the Celtics over the top. Still like Lakers for the title.
Feb.29 at 1:01 pm
WhaHuh says:
Rajon>Sam
Feb.29 at 1:07 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
so i’m a dancer? wtf, lol
Feb.29 at 1:26 pm
underdog says:
I hope the C’s sign Glen Robinson in a hurry.
Feb.29 at 1:36 pm
Bruno - Brasil says:
hahahaha
glen robinson! perfect!
but why not john stockton???? he could help rajon way more than sammy and, come on… this man deserves a ring!!!!!!
Feb.29 at 2:36 pm
Tariq says:
Khalid: I know you dance for two reasons: First, last year in Vegas Land mentioned that you were the lone dancer in the Slam troupe, and proceeded to cut a rug. In addition, let us not forget your infamous, mysterious “rain” episode this year in New Orleans, which, if I remember correctly, occurred on a dance floor.
Feb.29 at 2:37 pm
Tariq says:
* in Vegas Lang mentioned…
Feb.29 at 2:48 pm
Galo says:
And Boston looks more and more like Miami: Getting exponetially od, they’ll win in the next 2 years and then totally collapse for another decade of mediocre play.
Feb.29 at 3:41 pm
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
But how can Sam be Gollum when he already has a ring..?
Feb.29 at 4:13 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Well yes what i said before remains true, its just funny seeing someone refer to me as a dancer. Yeah i dance but i’m not a great dancer or anything like that (i’m not bad either, average i would say). I’m pretty sure i couldn’t quit my day job is what i’m sayihg. Okay back to basketball.
Feb.29 at 5:14 pm
Tariq says:
Khalid: The Sixers suck.
Feb.29 at 5:51 pm
eyehatedirk says:
I’m actually pining for an Isiah Rider or Calbert Cheaney signing myself….
Mar.1 at 12:51 am
GOAT says:
Sam will make Rondo’s game better…. Let’s not forget that the two rings Sam did win, were around the same age that Rondo is now.
Mar.1 at 1:51 am
trev says:
yo someone please explain were the B-C’s are geting all that dam money for pierce,garnett,allen,sam,rondo,etc. how come they aren’t bankrupt?
Mar.1 at 5:19 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Too bad Miami didn’t buyout Mourning - the C’s could have signed him too
Mar.2 at 9:14 am
Mark Z says:
Rondo doesn’t see him as a threat, because he’s the anti Sam. No ego, selfless passer, doesn’t chatter with the oppposing team or the crowd or the refs, etc, etc…
Mar.2 at 4:02 pm
Cam Jones says:
Actually the Sam and PJ signing won’t affect the Celts long terms as I sure they are only signed throughout this season. It is the mega-Garnett contract and what’s left of Ray Allen’s deal in few year will be a problem. P-Double got some years left in the tank though