A few mid-week nibbles for you:
-- Doesn't exactly feel like things are breaking the C's way so far this spring does it?
First they play horribly against the Hawks in the first round. Then the Hawks get swept by the Cavs, making that six-game bow out look even worse. But that was merely the appetizer. Small potatoes.
It's what's happened since that could leave a mark.
Kevin Durant is on the verge of a second-round upset of the Spurs, and with every win it seems less likely he's leaving Oklahoma. Maybe the C's had a chance at him; more likely they didn't. Either way, the closer Durant gets to the Finals, the more that dream dies. Meanwhile, the Bulls have been throwing cold water on the Jimmy Butler rumors and Vlade Divac said yesterday that DeMarcus Cousins isn't going anywhere this year as the Kings try to break in a new coach.
So what's left? More draft picks?
Great. So it's back to the ping-pong balls. Can't wait.
Boston Celtics
-- I'm kind of blown away Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't gotten back into an NFL camp yet. Not that he's great, or that he would represent good value for someone at his current contract demands. ($14 million?) But he is certainly capable at the position, and he's shown a proven ability to adjust to different systems and produce at an adequate level over his 11 NFL seasons. Last year he was more than that for the Jets; he was actually pretty good.
Look across the league and you'll find around a half-dozen spots where Fitzpatrick would be a better option at the position, for one year at least, than what is currently slated. Start with the Jets (Geno Smith) and Bills (Tyrod Taylor) in the AFC East alone. Then I would include the Broncos (Mark Sanchez), Niners (Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick) and Rams (Nick Foles, Jared Goff) to that list. It's a toss up whether Fitzpatrick would be a better option than Robert Griffin in Cleveland or Brock Osweiler in Houston, but you get the idea. He'd make sense in a lot of places.
Consider this a prime example of someone pricing himself out of a job. The place he really belongs is Denver.
-- Phil Kessel scored two more goals and added an assist on the Penguins' overtime winner against Washington last night, giving him 33 points (18 goals) in 33 career postseason games. Say what you will about the guy -- his toughness, his weight, his attitude -- but he scores in the playoffs. He even did it here, playing for the coach where young snipers go to die (15 points, 9 goals, in 15 playoff games for the B's).
By comparison, there is no current Bruin who comes close to that point-per-game production in the postseason. David Krejci is the closest with 77 points in 93 games. Patrice Bergeron has 66 points in 95 games.
Kessel is now playing in the conference final. Joe Thornton and Tyler Seguin (still hurt) are a win away from doing the same in the west. How does that taste?
Email Felger at mfelger@comcastsporstsnet.com. Listen to Felger and Mazz weekdays, 2-6 p.m. on 98.5 FM. The simulcast runs daily on CSN.
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