Four months ago, we saw the beginnings of a rivalry going on concerning the Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. The two teams competed in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs for a remarkable playoff round, playing seven overtimes in 7 showdowns, and the excitement was there.
It was a matchup based around the generals of the floor. The Celts had Rajon Rondo, a young 2, putting up very nearly a triple-double each night and leading a Boston team depleted by physical issues and forced to go tiny. Chicago had Derrick Rose, 20, undergoing a central series in the formative years of his career. A rookie surrounded with experienced players, Rose played with self-assurance outside his age.
Currently, four months have lapsed, and the two franchises nevertheless have a rivalry based on point guards.
The man at hand is Carlos Arroyo. The 30-year-old career bench guard played 8 seasons in the American basketball scene between 2001 and 2008; he later jumped ship and relocated to Israel, reaching a one-year gig with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Now, after a season elsewhere, Arroyo wants to once again play in the NBA.
The Celtics are the rational target for Arroyo. The Celtics are presently devoid of a qualified backup for Rondo at point guard -- and following 2 seasons of acquiring one in the middle of the season (1st Sam Cassell in , then Stephon Marbury this past season), they can chiefly use a season-round guard. The franchise has reportedly agreed to provisions with Marquis Daniels, however Daniels is more of a swingman-type than a natural point guard. He's not quite the answer.
Arroyo is a good fit. He's quite low-priced, he plays hard on both ends of the floor, and he would be beyond pleased as a second-string on a first-rate franchise. He's done it in the past -- he backed up Mark Jackson with the Jazz, Chauncey Billups in Detroit, in addition to Jameer Nelson with the Magic. He does not need a starting gig to be content in the league -- he will just take minutes whichever way he might attain them.
Apparently Arroyo is in talks with the Celtics regarding becoming the newest backup for Rondo.
Unless, that is, the Bulls snag him away first.
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