CONGRATULATIONS CELTICS!!!

We want to offer our congratulations to the Boston Celtics family for once again bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy home to Boston. From Danny Ainge's brilliant trades and player acquistions to Doc River's perfect handling of his team to the ownership/management giving them all the tools they needed to win, this Celtics' championship was won on and off the court. From a basketball standpoint, I just loved how this team came together and dedicated itself to winning a championship. Garnett, Pierce and Allen lead the way, but I was as impressed with every bench player coming in and making major contributions. Congrats again on a job well done!

Marc Spears Has An Update

This from the Boston Globe Today...

A Maine attraction?

The NBA Development League recently announced the Celtics will keep the Utah Flash as their affiliate next season. Boston, however, has been interested in getting a much closer affiliate, perhaps in Portland, Maine.

Portland is hoping to field an NBDL expansion team by the 2009-10 season. Ex-Celtics assistant coach Jon Jennings, who would be a co-owner in Portland, is hoping to hear good news soon. Helping Portland's cause is the fact the franchise's lead investor is Bill Ryan, chairman of TD Banknorth Garden, and ex-Celtics coach and star K.C. Jones is a consultant.

"We're still negotiating with the NBA," Jennings said. "Things look very good purchasing the team, but it's still not a done deal. We've gone pretty far in satisfying everything the NBA requires. Hopefully, in the near future, we'll get some good news from the NBA.

"They are really impressed with Portland and we have a great ownership group and the arena and so forth.

"We'll see what happens with Portland," Ainge said. "We're jumping the gun. We'll see how it goes."

Said Jennings, "We feel it's the perfect scenario . . . It would help the Celtics grow their brand in Northern New England."

In the meantime, Ainge expressed satisfaction with being affiliated with the Flash. "We'll go back to Utah [for 2008-09]," he said. "We like our relationship."

"It's an honor to be associated with a team playing in the NBA Finals," said Flash GM David Fredman. "The fact that they sent two players to develop, I thought the relationship went well and both sides were happy. It makes sense that they want something geographically closer. I understand that."

Celtics rookie Gabe Pruitt and rookie forward Brandon Wallace, who was cut Dec. 13, played for the Flash this season. "You don't know how much you helped a player like that until later on," Fredman said. "But I still think Gabe has a chance to be a good NBA player."

Hopefully, we'll be hearing more on this soon. It is nice to know that Portland is viewed in such a positive light and the compliments for the city are well deserved.