Joe Dumars acquired Allen Iverson in part to help offset Boston's artillery. It hasn't worked out too well. As a result, Iverson, whose contract expires after this season, may find himself working elsewhere next year. Dumars also has another large expiring contract on his roster--Rasheed Wallace. Depending on the Grand Vision of the Pistons' El Jefe, Wallace may not be part of Detroit's rebuilding plans either.
Would Dumars consider trading Wallace to the Lakers for Lamar Odom and some picks and young talent?
We know the Lakers won't waste time if the injury to Andrew Bynum is serious. We also know Phil has never been a big fan of Lamar Odom, whose contract also expires this summer. After last year's ridiculous Pau Gasol trade, anything is possible.
I'm going to reserve hope that this trade doesn't happen. The Pistons would essentially be throwing this season away. I'm not sure they are ready to do this quite yet. Nor do the Lakers have any young talent that would interest the Pistons. Jordan Farmar and the gang are not difference makers. Finally, any pick the Lakers' offered would be very low.
Still, the wheels will be spinning in Mitch's office. That's enough to make me nervous.
Bird Goes for 40, 17, 7, and 6 in Win Over Pistons
Celtics Improve to 25-8
1981-82 Boston Celtics
His nightly imitation of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde defies adequate explanation. But that is the charm of a Larry Bird. He finds ways to help the Celtics win when lesser players might hang their heads.
No one who watched Bird score 40 points, haul in 17 rebounds or dish out 7 assists in Boston's 134-124 victory over Detroit last night would have even suspected that he was coming off just a so-so effort against the 76ers on Friday night.
1981-82 Boston Celtics
His nightly imitation of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde defies adequate explanation. But that is the charm of a Larry Bird. He finds ways to help the Celtics win when lesser players might hang their heads.
No one who watched Bird score 40 points, haul in 17 rebounds or dish out 7 assists in Boston's 134-124 victory over Detroit last night would have even suspected that he was coming off just a so-so effort against the 76ers on Friday night.
Read more.
Celtics Give Up 38 First-Quarter Points, Still Win
1981-82 Boston Celtics
The Detroit Pistons hit the world champs with a 38-point first quarter that included 20 fast-break points (on 10-for-12 running), but the Celtics came right back in the second quarter to pick up 19 fast-break points of their own. Thus a Detroit lead that had twice peaked at eight in the first quarter (28-20, 30-22) was turned into a pair of 10-point Boston leads, each one answered by Kelly Tripucka.
Read more.
The Detroit Pistons hit the world champs with a 38-point first quarter that included 20 fast-break points (on 10-for-12 running), but the Celtics came right back in the second quarter to pick up 19 fast-break points of their own. Thus a Detroit lead that had twice peaked at eight in the first quarter (28-20, 30-22) was turned into a pair of 10-point Boston leads, each one answered by Kelly Tripucka.
Read more.
Pistons Score 251 Points in Two Games, Lose Both
1981-82 Boston Celtics
What price running? the Pistons played two hard games in two nights, during which they scored 251 points. They also lost them both.
Read more.
What price running? the Pistons played two hard games in two nights, during which they scored 251 points. They also lost them both.
Read more.
Green Tallies 25 Assists on 31 Field Goals
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | DETROIT | |
| Points | 86 | 78 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 31-68 (.456) | 30-74 (.405) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 4-10 (.400) | 1-8 (.125) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 20-25 (.800) | 17-23 (.739) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 11-44 | 11-36 |
| Assists | 25 | 16 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Steals | 6 | 5 |
| Blocks | 7 | 3 |
| Fast Break Points | 5 | 4 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 18 (0/1) | 18 (1/1) |
| Largest Lead | 11 | 0 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON | DETROIT | ||
 | K. Garnett Points: 22 Reb: 9 Ast: 3 Stl: 1 Blk: 2 |  | R. Stuckey Points: 19 Reb: 3 Ast: 4 Stl: 0 Blk: 0 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| BOSTON | DETROIT | |
| Points | K. Garnett 22 | A. Iverson 19 |
| Rebounds | K. Garnett 9 | A. McDyess 14 |
| Assists | R. Rondo 12 | R. Hamilton 5 |
| Steals | R. Allen 2 | T. Prince 3 |
| Blocks | K. Garnett 2 | T. Prince 1 |
| · Team stats: Boston | Detroit | ||
So-So Celtics Notch 10th Consecutive Win
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 39 | 6-10 | 2-2 | 6-8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +10 | 20 |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 37 | 10-17 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +12 | 22 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 29 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +11 | 9 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 38 | 4-14 | 1-5 | 5-5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | +10 | 14 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 39 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +9 | 8 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Glen Davis, PF | 19 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 3 |
| Leon Powe, PF | 11 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| Eddie House, SG | 15 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| Tony Allen, SG | 15 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 6 |
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Bill Walker, SG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 31-68 | 4-10 | 20-25 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 86 | |||
| 45.6% | 40.0% | 80.0% | Team TO (pts off): 16 (18) | |||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| DETROIT PISTONS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Tayshaun Prince, SF | 35 | 1-7 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -11 | 4 |
| Amir Johnson, PF | 5 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -8 | 2 |
| Rasheed Wallace, C | 38 | 5-16 | 1-6 | 1-2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -11 | 12 |
| Allen Iverson, SG | 43 | 7-14 | 0-0 | 5-6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -9 | 19 |
| Rodney Stuckey, PG | 37 | 7-11 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -11 | 19 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Antonio McDyess, PF | 38 | 1-8 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +4 | 3 |
| Richard Hamilton, SG | 30 | 6-13 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +6 | 14 |
| Jason Maxiell, PF | 14 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Kwame Brown, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Will Bynum, PG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Arron Afflalo, SG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Walter Herrmann, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 30-74 | 1-8 | 17-23 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 78 | |||
| 40.5% | 12.5% | 73.9% | Team TO (pts off): 12 (19) | |||||||||||
Remembering the Day House Dropped 61
Part I
January 2000
Eddie House scored 61 points and Arizona State needed every one of them to prevail, 111-108, over California in double overtime Saturday in Berkeley.
House went 18-for-30 from the field, including 7-for-10 from 3- point range and made 18 of 19 free throws in surpassing his own school record and tying a 33-year- old Pac-10 record. Fittingly, House had the final say in the game.
Read more.
January 2000
Eddie House scored 61 points and Arizona State needed every one of them to prevail, 111-108, over California in double overtime Saturday in Berkeley.
House went 18-for-30 from the field, including 7-for-10 from 3- point range and made 18 of 19 free throws in surpassing his own school record and tying a 33-year- old Pac-10 record. Fittingly, House had the final say in the game.
Read more.
Remembering the Day House Dropped 61
Part II
House v. Alcindor
January 2000
House's 61 differs from Alcindor's
The crowd gathered in Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 25, 1967 kept chanting, "Give the ball to Lew," so what else were the UCLA Bruins supposed to do? Sophomore center Lew Alcindor responded with one of the greatest performances of his legendary career, scoring a conference-record 61 points in UCLA's 100-78 victory over Washington State.
To do it, Alcindor hit 26 of 35 shots and made three baskets in the final minute, including a dunk at the buzzer. If the big fella had made more than 9 of 18 free throws, he'd have approached 70. "They played him straight (man-to-man defense)," UCLA coach John Wooden said at the time. "I don't believe you can handle him this way." For 33 years, Alcindor's performance stood as the greatest in league history.
Now it has company.
Read more.
House v. Alcindor
January 2000
House's 61 differs from Alcindor's
The crowd gathered in Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 25, 1967 kept chanting, "Give the ball to Lew," so what else were the UCLA Bruins supposed to do? Sophomore center Lew Alcindor responded with one of the greatest performances of his legendary career, scoring a conference-record 61 points in UCLA's 100-78 victory over Washington State.
To do it, Alcindor hit 26 of 35 shots and made three baskets in the final minute, including a dunk at the buzzer. If the big fella had made more than 9 of 18 free throws, he'd have approached 70. "They played him straight (man-to-man defense)," UCLA coach John Wooden said at the time. "I don't believe you can handle him this way." For 33 years, Alcindor's performance stood as the greatest in league history.
Now it has company.
Read more.
Celtics Cruise Again Behind Lewis, Bird, and Parish
Green Improves to 10-2
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
The Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-102, getting big games from Larry Bird (29 points) and Reggie Lewis (28) and Robert Parish was a dominant force inside with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Brian Shaw (12) and Bird (10) hit double digits in assists. Boston had a staggering 51-29 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second-chance points. That represented a season's haul in years past.
Who's next? Does it matter? The Celtics have won six straight and are now a heady 10-2. They are 5-1 on the road, an unimaginable feat not too long ago.
Read more
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
The Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-102, getting big games from Larry Bird (29 points) and Reggie Lewis (28) and Robert Parish was a dominant force inside with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Brian Shaw (12) and Bird (10) hit double digits in assists. Boston had a staggering 51-29 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second-chance points. That represented a season's haul in years past.
Who's next? Does it matter? The Celtics have won six straight and are now a heady 10-2. They are 5-1 on the road, an unimaginable feat not too long ago.
Read more
Larry Bird Judicious with His Threes
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
RICHFIELD, Ohio The once self-proclaimed King of the Three-Point Shooters has pretty much abdicated his throne.
He was summarily overthrown last year in Miami in the Long Distance Shootout and has since vowed to take 3-pointers only when new popes are installed.
But the opportunity arose for Larry Bird last night and he couldn't resist. The timing was ideal -- it would be a killer if it succeeded.
And it did.
Read More.
Remembering the 29-5 Start
RICHFIELD, Ohio The once self-proclaimed King of the Three-Point Shooters has pretty much abdicated his throne.
He was summarily overthrown last year in Miami in the Long Distance Shootout and has since vowed to take 3-pointers only when new popes are installed.
But the opportunity arose for Larry Bird last night and he couldn't resist. The timing was ideal -- it would be a killer if it succeeded.
And it did.
Read More.
Disturbing Trend or Aberation?
As the February 5th rematch against the Lakers draws closer, I sense history making an attempt to repeat itself. Prior to the first meeting, our stellar defense took some games off. Instead of holding teams below 90 points and below 45% from the field during the lead-up to Green-Purple I, the Celtics decided that defense wasn't as important as they once thought, and were now trying simply to outscore their opponents.
The below chart illustrates. In four of the five games preceding the loss at Staples, the opponent either scored more than 90 points against the Celtics, shot 45% or better from field, or both. During the SLUMP, in which we lost 7 of 9, the opponent scored more than 90 points and shot better than 45% in every loss but one, the loss to the Knicks, who scored 100 points but only shot .415.
In the first seven wins of the latest winning streak, the Celtics defensive dominance returned for the most part. In all but one of those seven games, the Celtics held their opponents to less than 90 points, held their opponents to less than 45% from the field, or both. But in the last two games, the Celtics have given up 100 points twice, and Sacramento inched very close to the 45% marker.
Defense wins championships, of course. But during the regular season, defense wins big games. Outscoring the opponent is always the goal, but for the Celtics to thrive on all cylinders, their defense must fuel their offense by getting stops when they need them. The mindset of a Western Conference shootout where we simply outhoist the opponent isn't one that will take us very far.
I'm not sure what that last two games tell us. So let's see where the Green's D goes from here.
The below chart illustrates. In four of the five games preceding the loss at Staples, the opponent either scored more than 90 points against the Celtics, shot 45% or better from field, or both. During the SLUMP, in which we lost 7 of 9, the opponent scored more than 90 points and shot better than 45% in every loss but one, the loss to the Knicks, who scored 100 points but only shot .415.
In the first seven wins of the latest winning streak, the Celtics defensive dominance returned for the most part. In all but one of those seven games, the Celtics held their opponents to less than 90 points, held their opponents to less than 45% from the field, or both. But in the last two games, the Celtics have given up 100 points twice, and Sacramento inched very close to the 45% marker.
Defense wins championships, of course. But during the regular season, defense wins big games. Outscoring the opponent is always the goal, but for the Celtics to thrive on all cylinders, their defense must fuel their offense by getting stops when they need them. The mindset of a Western Conference shootout where we simply outhoist the opponent isn't one that will take us very far.
I'm not sure what that last two games tell us. So let's see where the Green's D goes from here.
PA=POINTS ALLOWED; FGPA=FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE ALLOWED
PA FGPA
SAC 100 .440 W
DAL 100 .421 W
ORL 80 .382 W
MIA 83 .400 W
PHO 87 .472 W
NJ 85 .405 W
NJ 86 .388 W
TOR 109 .476 W
TOR 88 .378 W
CLEV 98 .508 L
HOUS 89 .486 L
CATS 114 .481 L
NY 100 .415 L
WASH 83 .383 W
PORT 91 .452 L
SAC 63 .279 W
GS 99 .458 L
LA 92 .462 L
PHI 91 .481 W
NY 105 .434 W
CHI 108 .506 W
ATL 85 .367 W
UT 91 .459 W
NO 82 .354 W
WA 88 .431 W
IN 117 .506 W
PORT 78 .426 W
IN 96 .440 W
ORL 88 .420 W
CATS 84 .478 W
PHI 78 .416 W
GS 111 .496 W
The Last We Heard from Pollard
Journal-World (Lawrence, KS)
October 10, 2008
Pollard lurking
The NBA hasn't seen the last of Scot Pollard yet. At least he hopes it hasn't. Injuries prevented him from ever really executing his role as backup center for the Celtics last season, but he told the Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World that he ain't done yet.
``Not officially, no way,'' said Pollard, who's coming off ankle surgery. ``I am keeping my options open. I will not close any doors. That's why I'm working out every day, staying in shape. If the right situation does come, great. If not, I'll be a soccer dad in Indianapolis working on my next career (broadcasting).''
No one's been throwing any guaranteed offers his way, but, as he saw when he got hurt last year, things can change in a hurry.
``That's why I'm working out,'' he said. ``Somebody gets hurt, (a team) may call. It happened to me last year. I got hurt, and P.J. Brown got called up in February. He wasn't doing anything. He wasn't officially retired. I needed surgery, and they saw he was available.
"I haven't had any solid offers," Pollard said. "I'm just waiting."
The 6-foot-11, 270-pounder played in 22 games last season while battling injuries with the Boston Celtics. The 2008 NBA champions did not offer Pollard a contract for this season, despite the fact that after a pair of reconstructive ankle surgeries he's physically fit and raring to go.
October 10, 2008
Pollard lurking
The NBA hasn't seen the last of Scot Pollard yet. At least he hopes it hasn't. Injuries prevented him from ever really executing his role as backup center for the Celtics last season, but he told the Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World that he ain't done yet.
``Not officially, no way,'' said Pollard, who's coming off ankle surgery. ``I am keeping my options open. I will not close any doors. That's why I'm working out every day, staying in shape. If the right situation does come, great. If not, I'll be a soccer dad in Indianapolis working on my next career (broadcasting).''
No one's been throwing any guaranteed offers his way, but, as he saw when he got hurt last year, things can change in a hurry.
``That's why I'm working out,'' he said. ``Somebody gets hurt, (a team) may call. It happened to me last year. I got hurt, and P.J. Brown got called up in February. He wasn't doing anything. He wasn't officially retired. I needed surgery, and they saw he was available.
"I haven't had any solid offers," Pollard said. "I'm just waiting."
The 6-foot-11, 270-pounder played in 22 games last season while battling injuries with the Boston Celtics. The 2008 NBA champions did not offer Pollard a contract for this season, despite the fact that after a pair of reconstructive ankle surgeries he's physically fit and raring to go.
Deja Green: Celtics Bench Rallies in Janaury . . . Again
The 1985-86 Boston Celtics started the season 17-2, and then promptly lost five of nine. The low point of the season was the Christmas-Day Debacle against the New York Knicks, where the Celtics blew a 25-point lead on their way to a humiliating defeat.
Two days before that Debacle, Dan Shaughnessy called out the Celtics bench for underperforming. The bench fared no better on Christmas Day. But then something happened.
KC Jones started using the bench more and the bench started producing. No one is sure which happened first. A month later, Shaughnessy noticed the difference, lavishing the Celtics' reserves with high praise, from Bill Walton, Scott Wedman and Jerry Sichting all the way down to Rick Carlisle, David ThirdKill and Greg Kite.
This year the Celtics started out 27-2, and then promptly lost seven of nine, a slump that began with a tough loss on December 25th. An LA writer then called out the Celtics bench as nonexistent. Since then, the bench has slowly risen to the challenge, especially over the last two weeks when they have been playing like gangbusters. It is still too early to fully evaluate the second unit, but it may just be a Christmas Day defeat that the Celtics' reserves use as a rallying point once again.
Two days before that Debacle, Dan Shaughnessy called out the Celtics bench for underperforming. The bench fared no better on Christmas Day. But then something happened.
KC Jones started using the bench more and the bench started producing. No one is sure which happened first. A month later, Shaughnessy noticed the difference, lavishing the Celtics' reserves with high praise, from Bill Walton, Scott Wedman and Jerry Sichting all the way down to Rick Carlisle, David ThirdKill and Greg Kite.
This year the Celtics started out 27-2, and then promptly lost seven of nine, a slump that began with a tough loss on December 25th. An LA writer then called out the Celtics bench as nonexistent. Since then, the bench has slowly risen to the challenge, especially over the last two weeks when they have been playing like gangbusters. It is still too early to fully evaluate the second unit, but it may just be a Christmas Day defeat that the Celtics' reserves use as a rallying point once again.
E. House & D-Fish
Then there’s their bench, as in, what bench? Powe and Tony Allen might or might not break into the Lakers’ nine-man rotation. Davis and Eddie House, no shot.
--Mark Heisler, LA Times
Before the Finals began last June, I said that I wasn't sure that Derek Fisher was better than our third string point guard, Eddie House, much less Rajon Rondo or Sam Cassell. The next six games only made me more dubious. E. House was a difference maker. D-Fish? Don't really remember anything remarkable he did.
The above piece in the LA Times seems to disagree. That's OK. Maybe I'm a homer.
I will note, however, that during January Derek Fisher has been averaging almost 37 minutes per game, while scoring in double figures six times. In no one game did he score more than 20 points. By contrast, E. House has scored in double figures six times during January despite averaging less than 19 minutes per game, or almost a quarter-and-a-half less of basketball than Fisher. Oh, and E.House has exceeded 20 points three times.
C's Post 30 Assists on 44 Field Goals with Only 11 Turnovers
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| SACRAMENTO | BOSTON | |
| Points | 100 | 119 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 33-75 (.440) | 44-80 (.550) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 8-19 (.421) | 9-13 (.692) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 26-30 (.867) | 22-27 (.815) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 9-33 | 11-40 |
| Assists | 18 | 30 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 11 |
| Steals | 2 | 9 |
| Blocks | 2 | 6 |
| Fast Break Points | 3 | 24 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 25 (1/0) | 25 (2/0) |
| Largest Lead | 10 | 24 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SACRAMENTO | BOSTON | ||
 | J. Thompson Points: 21 Reb: 11 Ast: 4 Stl: 0 Blk: 0 |  | E. House Points: 28 Reb: 3 Ast: 0 Stl: 1 Blk: 0 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| SACRAMENTO | BOSTON | |
| Points | J. Salmons 22 | E. House 28 |
| Rebounds | J. Thompson 11 | K. Garnett 8 |
| Assists | J. Salmons 5 | R. Rondo 9 |
| Steals | J. Salmons 1 | T. Allen 3 |
| Blocks | J. Salmons 1 | K. Perkins 2 |
| · Team stats: Sacramento Boston | ||
House Hits 8 Triples in 20 Minutes
7:30 PM ET, January 28, 2009
TD Banknorth Garden
Boston, MA
| SACRAMENTO KINGS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| John Salmons, SF | 38 | 7-14 | 4-7 | 4-4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -11 | 22 |
| Jason Thompson, PF | 36 | 7-10 | 0-0 | 7-7 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | +2 | 21 |
| Brad Miller, C | 28 | 5-13 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 11 |
| Kevin Martin, SG | 36 | 4-10 | 0-2 | 10-13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -9 | 18 |
| Beno Udrih, PG | 20 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -6 | 4 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Bobby Brown, PG | 28 | 4-11 | 3-6 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -13 | 13 |
| Spencer Hawes, PF | 23 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -21 | 3 |
| Francisco Garcia, SG | 18 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -21 | 6 |
| Shelden Williams, PF | 3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -11 | 0 |
| Mikki Moore, PF | 5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 2 |
| Donte Greene, SF | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 0 |
| Bobby Jackson, PG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 33-75 | 8-19 | 26-30 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 25 | 100 | |||
| 44.0% | 42.1% | 86.7% | Team TO (pts off): 14 (22) | |||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 27 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 6-6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -1 | 8 |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 27 | 7-15 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +4 | 14 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 24 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -8 | 0 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 32 | 5-12 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +12 | 12 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 29 | 10-15 | 0-0 | 4-7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 24 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Glen Davis, PF | 22 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +27 | 14 |
| Tony Allen, SG | 23 | 5-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +19 | 10 |
| Leon Powe, PF | 18 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +18 | 6 |
| Eddie House, SG | 20 | 10-13 | 8-9 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +29 | 28 |
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 2 |
| Bill Walker, SG | 4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 1 |
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | 4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 0 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 44-80 | 9-13 | 22-27 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 30 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 119 | |||
| 55.0% | 69.2% | 81.5% | Team TO (pts off): 11 (13) | |||||||||||
Flip The Switch
When they lose a couple games on the road I compare them to that one team that broke my heart (1987). So it's only fair, when the green toys with their pray for a quarter or so until the jugular is fully exposed and they pounce, that I compare them to any of the teams from 1980 to 1986.
Tonight would be a good example of the latter. The Celtics were down 30-28 after one quarter, a chapter straight out the 1985-86 season. If you own the 1986 Finals DVDs, throw one in and fast forward to the end of the first quarter. The Celtics routinely gave up almost exactly 30 points.
Then they got down to business.
Kind of like tonight, when they outscored the Queens 40-19 in the second quarter.
Now let's see if they go for the TKO in the third, enabling the starters to snort and laugh their way through the fourth as they look on from the bench.
UPDATE:
I'm glad they won, thereby staving off comparisons to the 1988-1991 Era, when the green would build big leads, only to lose them, and then have to fight tooth and nail to claw out a victory in the last two minutes.
Tonight would be a good example of the latter. The Celtics were down 30-28 after one quarter, a chapter straight out the 1985-86 season. If you own the 1986 Finals DVDs, throw one in and fast forward to the end of the first quarter. The Celtics routinely gave up almost exactly 30 points.
Then they got down to business.
Kind of like tonight, when they outscored the Queens 40-19 in the second quarter.
Now let's see if they go for the TKO in the third, enabling the starters to snort and laugh their way through the fourth as they look on from the bench.
UPDATE:
I'm glad they won, thereby staving off comparisons to the 1988-1991 Era, when the green would build big leads, only to lose them, and then have to fight tooth and nail to claw out a victory in the last two minutes.
Replacing Scalabrine
Once upon a time I might have hoped to see Patrick O'Bryant get some meaningful minutes off the bench. I've long since disabused myself of that notion.
Once upon a time I might have secretly wished to see JR Giddens take the floor.
No more.
But come on.
Brian Scalabrine is out for a week and Doc's response is to simply insert Tony Allen back into the rotation?
People, this is the Sacramento Kings. They stink. It's a home game. Bill Walker deserves some PT. Move him up. Try him as a rotational guy. What's the worst thing that can happen?
Screw Tony Allen and the ankle he rode in on. I'm sick of waiting around for this guy to get healthy, and I'm even more tired of waiting for him to produce on a consistent basis.
Doc needs to learn to live a little, do something wacky once in a while. I've got a suggestion. How about we play the promising rooking over the endlessly disappointing veteran?
Just for one game, unless Walker does well. Then for two games. And so on.
Once upon a time I might have secretly wished to see JR Giddens take the floor.
No more.
But come on.
Brian Scalabrine is out for a week and Doc's response is to simply insert Tony Allen back into the rotation?
People, this is the Sacramento Kings. They stink. It's a home game. Bill Walker deserves some PT. Move him up. Try him as a rotational guy. What's the worst thing that can happen?
Screw Tony Allen and the ankle he rode in on. I'm sick of waiting around for this guy to get healthy, and I'm even more tired of waiting for him to produce on a consistent basis.
Doc needs to learn to live a little, do something wacky once in a while. I've got a suggestion. How about we play the promising rooking over the endlessly disappointing veteran?
Just for one game, unless Walker does well. Then for two games. And so on.
#66
Speaking of the Hip Pocket, I wonder why we haven't heard anything at all about Scot Pollard.
He's got length. He knows the system. He's available. He told us last summer that he had no plans to retire.
He might still be recovering from surgery. Or maybe he's waiting to see what shakes down before March 1. My guess is that Doc, Danny, and #66 have at least had a conversation. He's on Danny's board somewhere. It might not be a likely scenario. But somewhere Danny has his name on a contingency plan.
If coaxing Reggie Miller out of retirement is within the realm of Danny's imagination, bringing back Scot Pollard for a short stint must be, too.
He's got length. He knows the system. He's available. He told us last summer that he had no plans to retire.
He might still be recovering from surgery. Or maybe he's waiting to see what shakes down before March 1. My guess is that Doc, Danny, and #66 have at least had a conversation. He's on Danny's board somewhere. It might not be a likely scenario. But somewhere Danny has his name on a contingency plan.
If coaxing Reggie Miller out of retirement is within the realm of Danny's imagination, bringing back Scot Pollard for a short stint must be, too.
No More Home Cookin' for Da Purple
Including last night's against the Charlotte Bobcats, the Lakers will have played 29 of their 44 games at Staples Center. That includes two games in which the Lakers were the designated road team against the Clippers.
But all that will change after tonight. Starting Friday, the Lakers will begin a six-game, 11-day trip. After tonight, 12 of the Lakers' next 16 games are on the road.
Wait.
You mean the league is holding the Lakers to the rules?
The purple has to play 41 road games like everyone else?
Well, other than those 2 "road games" against the Clippers.
Now let's see how their gaudy record holds up.
But all that will change after tonight. Starting Friday, the Lakers will begin a six-game, 11-day trip. After tonight, 12 of the Lakers' next 16 games are on the road.
Wait.
You mean the league is holding the Lakers to the rules?
The purple has to play 41 road games like everyone else?
Well, other than those 2 "road games" against the Clippers.
Now let's see how their gaudy record holds up.
Order Returning to the Universe
W L PCT GBCavs get Z back Thursday, which is kind of amazing, considering how well they did without him. Delonte's absence hasn't made a difference either.
Boston 37 9 .804 -
Cleveland 35 8 .814 ½
LA Lakers 35 9 .795 1
I should be more worried about Cleveland than I am.
Let's get past 2/5, and then I'll shift my energies.
Cats Down Purple
LOS ANGELES — Shannon Brown hit a key three-pointer and Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton hit four free throws late to give the Charlotte Bobcats a 117-110 double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
It was the Bobcats’ fifth victory in six meetings with the Lakers and third straight win against them in the Staples Center. The Bobcats improved to 19-26.
The Cats sure do get up for playing the green and the purple.
It was the Bobcats’ fifth victory in six meetings with the Lakers and third straight win against them in the Staples Center. The Bobcats improved to 19-26.
The Cats sure do get up for playing the green and the purple.
What's in that Hip Pocket?
The volume of rumors is what surprises me.
Suppose Danny had been successful in coaxing Zo and Reggie out of retirement (I suppose it could still happen). Not wanting to be left out, Marbury throws another $5m on the table to secure a buyout from New York and now he wants to come on board in Boston (this seems a stretch, but still possible). It's not out of the question that we'd sign all three. Three different players, three different positions, three different needs.
But all of a sudden our roster would be bursting with 18 players, and I'm pretty sure Doc still plans on using Sam once the playoffs get closer.
There must be a board room contingency plan. In fact, Danny used the word "board" the other day, as in "I still haven't taken PJ and Zo off my board."
I wonder what the pecking order is?
In comes Reggie, out goes JR?
Hello Alonzo, goodbye POB?
Steph signs, Pruitt is punked?
The other interesting thing is I doubt any of these current Celtics would just get cut outright. My guess is Danny has a handful of minor side deals in his hip pocket. Now if we only knew what was in that hip pocket.
Suppose Danny had been successful in coaxing Zo and Reggie out of retirement (I suppose it could still happen). Not wanting to be left out, Marbury throws another $5m on the table to secure a buyout from New York and now he wants to come on board in Boston (this seems a stretch, but still possible). It's not out of the question that we'd sign all three. Three different players, three different positions, three different needs.
But all of a sudden our roster would be bursting with 18 players, and I'm pretty sure Doc still plans on using Sam once the playoffs get closer.
There must be a board room contingency plan. In fact, Danny used the word "board" the other day, as in "I still haven't taken PJ and Zo off my board."
I wonder what the pecking order is?
In comes Reggie, out goes JR?
Hello Alonzo, goodbye POB?
Steph signs, Pruitt is punked?
The other interesting thing is I doubt any of these current Celtics would just get cut outright. My guess is Danny has a handful of minor side deals in his hip pocket. Now if we only knew what was in that hip pocket.
Big Three Make Big Leap at the Line
2008-09 FT% Career FT% Differential
Kevin Garnett .842 .782 .060
Paul Pierce .846 .798 .048
Ray Allen .936 .891 .045
And Another Thing
Can we get over the idea that the green didn't take the 12/25 game seriously?
After the road victories over the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks, Paul Pierce made a point of saying that they were "statement" games.
So road games against the Magic and the Hawks are important but the road game against the Lakers wasn't?
Give me a break.
It's OK for the Celtics to publicly downplay the Christmas-Day defeat. That's what you do when you lose a big game.
But let's not pretend they mean it.
After the road victories over the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks, Paul Pierce made a point of saying that they were "statement" games.
So road games against the Magic and the Hawks are important but the road game against the Lakers wasn't?
Give me a break.
It's OK for the Celtics to publicly downplay the Christmas-Day defeat. That's what you do when you lose a big game.
But let's not pretend they mean it.
It's a Green and Purple World
Ok.
You knew this was coming.
Why did the Celtics go 2-7 after starting the season 27-2?
Easy. The loss to the Lakers did a number on their psyche.
Why are the Celtics 8-0 since going through their slide?
Equally easy.
They are gearing up for the 2/5/09 rematch.
This blog has also argued that one reason the Celtics started the season on fire was because they were determined not to listen to how great the Lakers were for the first two months of the season. So they decided to steal some thunder from the purple and send a little message of their own to the Left Coast.
The motivation for their most recent hot streak is similar. The green understands that they need to be playing very well to win on 2/5, and so they better start ramping up early.
It's a green and purple world everyone.
It's sad how much I can milk one topic.
Isn't it?
You knew this was coming.
Why did the Celtics go 2-7 after starting the season 27-2?
Easy. The loss to the Lakers did a number on their psyche.
Why are the Celtics 8-0 since going through their slide?
Equally easy.
They are gearing up for the 2/5/09 rematch.
This blog has also argued that one reason the Celtics started the season on fire was because they were determined not to listen to how great the Lakers were for the first two months of the season. So they decided to steal some thunder from the purple and send a little message of their own to the Left Coast.
The motivation for their most recent hot streak is similar. The green understands that they need to be playing very well to win on 2/5, and so they better start ramping up early.
It's a green and purple world everyone.
It's sad how much I can milk one topic.
Isn't it?
Making Up for Lost Time
Ray Allen By the Numbers
MIN FG% 3P% FT% OR DR TR ST BL TO PF AS PTS
Season 36.3 .504 .416 .936 .9 2.5 3.4 .96 .13 1.72 1.85 2.8 18.1
Career 37.3 .448 .398 .891 1.1 3.3 4.5 1.23 .18 2.37 2.34 3.8 21.0
Last 5 GamesYou ever get the feeling that one reason Doc is allowing Ray Allen, the elder statesman amongst the Big 3, to play a little more than his counterparts is because Ray Allen is playing his best basketball as a Boston Celtic and maybe of his career?
DATE OPP RESULT MIN FG 3P FT ST BL TO PF OR DR TR AS PTS
1/17 @Njn W 105-85 30 8-12 3-7 6-6 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 25
1/19 Pho W 104-87 32 8-12 4-5 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 3 20
1/21 @Mia W 98-83 38 9-12 5-6 4-4 1 0 3 2 3 2 5 5 27
1/22 @Orl W 90-80 38 6-12 0-2 0-0 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 2 12
1/25 Dal W 124-100 34 9-13 4-5 1-1 1 1 0 2 1 4 5 7 23
These numbers are crazy.
42% from 3
50% overall
94% from the line.
The numbers from the last five games are even more mind-numbing.
How about an MVP chant the next time this guy goes to the line at the GAH-DEN?
Celtics Down Sixers in Athens-Sparta III
Late surge gives Boston win over depleted 76ers
Green Improves to 24-8
1981-82 Boston Celtics
This may have been one for the standings, but it certainly was not one for the heart. Defeating Philadelphia without Andrew Toney (sprained ankle) and with Darryl Dawkins playing 11 painful minutes (tendinitis of the left knee) is about as satisfying as beating Farrah Fawcett in an acting contest.
Nevertheless, the Celtics are now just a half-game out of first place.
Read more.
Green Improves to 24-8
1981-82 Boston Celtics
This may have been one for the standings, but it certainly was not one for the heart. Defeating Philadelphia without Andrew Toney (sprained ankle) and with Darryl Dawkins playing 11 painful minutes (tendinitis of the left knee) is about as satisfying as beating Farrah Fawcett in an acting contest.
Nevertheless, the Celtics are now just a half-game out of first place.
Read more.
ML Carr Helps Secure Win
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Welcome Back, M.L.
Check out the box score, folks. M.L. Carr played a season-high 24 minutes last night, all of it at guard, and without his efforts the Celtics would have lost the game. This may have been the big local development to come out of this game.
Read more.
Welcome Back, M.L.
Check out the box score, folks. M.L. Carr played a season-high 24 minutes last night, all of it at guard, and without his efforts the Celtics would have lost the game. This may have been the big local development to come out of this game.
Read more.
Winning Ugly Doesn't Win Fan Approval
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Are we too harsh on a 24-8 team that doesn't have the fans lighting their mental victory cigars every night by the 10-minute mark of the fourth period? Wouldn't folks in most cities be satisfied with such a record, no matter how it were achieved?
"It does get to the players sometimes," says Bill Fitch. "They wonder if they're expected to win, or win every night with great showmanship."
Read more.
Are we too harsh on a 24-8 team that doesn't have the fans lighting their mental victory cigars every night by the 10-minute mark of the fourth period? Wouldn't folks in most cities be satisfied with such a record, no matter how it were achieved?
"It does get to the players sometimes," says Bill Fitch. "They wonder if they're expected to win, or win every night with great showmanship."
Read more.
Antoine Impresses at Rookie Game
Antoine Walker's Rookie Season
2/9/97
Last night, Antoine Walker was one of 16 players in the third annual Rookie Game, coached by Celtics czar emeritus Red Auerbach. He had 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 airball free throw and led the team with 16 shots in 23 minutes. Red's team won, 96-91.
He isn't quite ready for the Hall of Fame yet. Or, for that matter, the real All-Star Game. He still can do incredibly wild things on the floor, and neither his field goal percentage nor free throw shooting is going to threaten the record books. He's a player. He's a '90s player, not especially sound on the fundamentals, but so incredibly gifted and athletic that he does things no one else does.
Midway through Walker's first NBA season, you have to look long and hard to find anyone who doesn't like this kid. Auerbach likes him a lot. "He's one of my favorites," Red gushed.He leads all rookies in rebounds (8.4). Among last night's contestants, he was fourth in scoring (14.7), fourth in minutes (32.2), second in steals (1.17) and sixth in assists (2.3).
Read more.
2/9/97
Last night, Antoine Walker was one of 16 players in the third annual Rookie Game, coached by Celtics czar emeritus Red Auerbach. He had 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 airball free throw and led the team with 16 shots in 23 minutes. Red's team won, 96-91.
He isn't quite ready for the Hall of Fame yet. Or, for that matter, the real All-Star Game. He still can do incredibly wild things on the floor, and neither his field goal percentage nor free throw shooting is going to threaten the record books. He's a player. He's a '90s player, not especially sound on the fundamentals, but so incredibly gifted and athletic that he does things no one else does.
Midway through Walker's first NBA season, you have to look long and hard to find anyone who doesn't like this kid. Auerbach likes him a lot. "He's one of my favorites," Red gushed.He leads all rookies in rebounds (8.4). Among last night's contestants, he was fourth in scoring (14.7), fourth in minutes (32.2), second in steals (1.17) and sixth in assists (2.3).
Read more.
Kendrick Rounding into Shape
24 Minutes
4-7 from the field
6 Caroms
3 Blocks
0 Turnovers
A heap load of picks for the shooters.
4-7 from the field
6 Caroms
3 Blocks
0 Turnovers
A heap load of picks for the shooters.
Bill Walker
Good things seem to happen more often when the ball touches his hands than they do when the ball rests with any of the other Celtics reserves. And that might explain his effectiveness. The ball doesn't "rest" in his hands for very long.
I've got to believe Doc sees this as well.
Meaningful minutes are in this kid's future, perhaps after the All-Star break.
I've got to believe Doc sees this as well.
Meaningful minutes are in this kid's future, perhaps after the All-Star break.
Ray Allen's an Old Man
MIN FG-A 3P-A FT-A OR DR TR AS ST BL TO PF +/- PTSYou start to understand Doc's problem after you see enough box scores like this one.
34 9-13 4-5 1-1 1 4 5 7 1 1 0 2 +23 23
How do you rest your best player when he's playing the best ball of his Hall of Fame career?
Are Scalabrine and Big Baby Expendable?
Celticdom has spent much of the season focused on figuring out the best way to replace PJ Brown and James Posey. Reduced to simple terms, the Celtics bench needs to add a shooter and some length.
That shouldn't be too hard, most of us thought to begin the season. Darius Miles dropped into our laps before the season even started. Joe Smith was wasting his time in Oklahoma, and Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo were free agents.
Yet as the season drags on, it has become clearer to many of us that our needs may not be answered via free agency. The most likely free agent candidate, Stephon Marbury, is demanding more money from a buyout than his team is willing to give.
Which doesn't leave many viable alternatives other than a trade. While a few "unnamed" GMs have said the Celtics don't have any desirable assets, the past two weeks have proven otherwise. Eddie House went "microwave" against the Heat, while Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis have been contributing more and more at a higher level.
Which brings me to today's question:
Do we really want to trade either Scalabrine or Davis? If so, what would you want in return?
I'm not entirely satisfied with our roster, but I'm not entirely opposed to sticking with the horses that brung us this far.
Is Mike Miller enough to part with either player? And don't forget, it won't be just Scalabrine or Davis. JR Giddens, Bill Walker, or Gabe Pruitt are likely to be included, too. Davis and another "ute" would be a pretty attractive package. But I'm not so sure I'm willing to part with them unless I get something more than Mike Miller.
That shouldn't be too hard, most of us thought to begin the season. Darius Miles dropped into our laps before the season even started. Joe Smith was wasting his time in Oklahoma, and Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo were free agents.
Yet as the season drags on, it has become clearer to many of us that our needs may not be answered via free agency. The most likely free agent candidate, Stephon Marbury, is demanding more money from a buyout than his team is willing to give.
Which doesn't leave many viable alternatives other than a trade. While a few "unnamed" GMs have said the Celtics don't have any desirable assets, the past two weeks have proven otherwise. Eddie House went "microwave" against the Heat, while Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis have been contributing more and more at a higher level.
Which brings me to today's question:
Do we really want to trade either Scalabrine or Davis? If so, what would you want in return?
I'm not entirely satisfied with our roster, but I'm not entirely opposed to sticking with the horses that brung us this far.
Is Mike Miller enough to part with either player? And don't forget, it won't be just Scalabrine or Davis. JR Giddens, Bill Walker, or Gabe Pruitt are likely to be included, too. Davis and another "ute" would be a pretty attractive package. But I'm not so sure I'm willing to part with them unless I get something more than Mike Miller.
Rondo Continues to Make his Case . . . Loudly and Forcefully
34 Minutes
6-10 from the Field
13 Points
14 Assists
7 Rebounds
4 Steals
2 Turnovers
+28
Another performance reminiscent of DJ in his prime...
6-10 from the Field
13 Points
14 Assists
7 Rebounds
4 Steals
2 Turnovers
+28
Another performance reminiscent of DJ in his prime...
7 Triples for E.House
| Dallas Mavericks (25-19) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| J.Howard | F | 36:45 | 6-13 | 1-4 | 5-6 | -20 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| D.Nowitzki | F | 37:07 | 4-17 | 0-3 | 10-12 | -23 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| E.Dampier | C | 27:34 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 2-2 | -8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| A.Wright | G | 14:07 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| J.Kidd | G | 34:30 | 2-7 | 1-3 | 1-2 | -18 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| J.Terry | 32:19 | 10-18 | 4-9 | 3-4 | -15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| J.Singleton | 09:02 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| J.Barea | 13:45 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 2-2 | -8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| B.Bass | 16:00 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 4-4 | -21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | |
| R.Hollins | 06:18 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3-4 | +5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| D.George | 06:18 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | +5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| M.Carroll | 06:18 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 32-76 | 6-20 | 30-36 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 100 | ||
| 42.1% | 30.0% | 83.3% | Team Rebs: 11 | Total TO: 15 | ||||||||||||
| Boston Celtics (37-9) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P.Pierce | F | 22:01 | 3-7 | 2-4 | 0-0 | +15 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| K.Garnett | F | 24:41 | 11-17 | 0-0 | 1-3 | +11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| K.Perkins | C | 23:42 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| R.Allen | G | 33:55 | 9-13 | 4-5 | 1-1 | +23 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| R.Rondo | G | 34:24 | 6-10 | 0-1 | 1-2 | +28 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| G.Pruitt | 14:23 | 2-7 | 1-3 | 0-0 | -2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| E.House | 27:32 | 8-14 | 7-11 | 0-1 | +11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | |
| G.Davis | 15:08 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 3-3 | +10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| B.Scalabrine | 15:09 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 0-0 | +17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| B.Walker | 12:00 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 2-2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | |
| L.Powe | 08:47 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| P.O'Bryant | 08:19 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 50-93 | 16-27 | 8-12 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 34 | 28 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 124 | ||
| 53.8% | 59.3% | 66.7% | Team Rebs: 9 | Total TO: 8 | ||||||||||||
Celtics Shoot 16-27 from Three
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| DALLAS | BOSTON | |
| Points | 100 | 124 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 32-76 (.421) | 50-93 (.538) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 6-20 (.300) | 16-27 (.593) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 30-36 (.833) | 8-12 (.667) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 12-40 | 9-37 |
| Assists | 12 | 34 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 4 |
| Steals | 3 | 10 |
| Blocks | 8 | 4 |
| Fast Break Points | 15 | 13 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 14 (1/0) | 28 (1/0) |
| Largest Lead | 3 | 35 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DALLAS | BOSTON | ||
 | J. Terry Points: 27 Reb: 2 Ast: 2 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |  | R. Allen Points: 23 Reb: 5 Ast: 7 Stl: 1 Blk: 1 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| DALLAS | BOSTON | |
| Points | J. Terry 27 | E. House 23 |
| Rebounds | D. Nowitzki 7 | R. Rondo 7 |
| Assists | J. Kidd 5 | R. Rondo 14 |
| Steals | J. Terry 2 | R. Rondo 4 |
| Blocks | J. Singleton 3 | K. Perkins 3 |
| · Team stats: Dallas | Boston | ||
Lakers-Celtics Rematch
The Lakers play the night before.
The Celtics don't.
A built in excuse for the Zen Mistress, who, to his credit, is acknowledging that the Lakers' favorable home schedule thus far has much to do with their gaudy record.
The Celtics don't.
A built in excuse for the Zen Mistress, who, to his credit, is acknowledging that the Lakers' favorable home schedule thus far has much to do with their gaudy record.
Closing Out January
Sun, Jan 25 Dallas 1:00 PM
Wed, Jan 28 Sacramento 7:30 PM
Fri, Jan 30 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
The LA Times Calls Out the Fakers?
The Lakers reclaimed the league's top record after blowing past the Washington Wizards, but how much of it is talent and how much of it is a friendly schedule?
The Lakers (34-8) have the league's highest-scoring offense, an All-Star starter, possibly an All-Star reserve, and one of the NBA's deepest benches.
But they've also played 25 home games and only 17 on the road -- with two at Staples Center against the Clippers.
Cleveland (33-8), on the other hand, has played 20 home games and 21 on the road.
Boston (36-9) has played 23 at home, 22 on the road.
Orlando (33-9) has played 20 at home, 22 on the road.
And, by the way, the Lakers' next two games are at home.
--LA Times
Say it ain't so!
The Fakers did beat Boston and Cleveland at home. But they've also lost to the Pistons at home, the Spurs and the Hornets on the road, and the Magic at home and on the road. Although nothing really matters until the playoffs, it says here that the Fakers real tests won't come until they play Boston and Cleveland on the road. Only then will we get a truer measure of the relative power of the NBA's elite teams.
The Lakers (34-8) have the league's highest-scoring offense, an All-Star starter, possibly an All-Star reserve, and one of the NBA's deepest benches.
But they've also played 25 home games and only 17 on the road -- with two at Staples Center against the Clippers.
Cleveland (33-8), on the other hand, has played 20 home games and 21 on the road.
Boston (36-9) has played 23 at home, 22 on the road.
Orlando (33-9) has played 20 at home, 22 on the road.
And, by the way, the Lakers' next two games are at home.
--LA Times
Say it ain't so!
The Fakers did beat Boston and Cleveland at home. But they've also lost to the Pistons at home, the Spurs and the Hornets on the road, and the Magic at home and on the road. Although nothing really matters until the playoffs, it says here that the Fakers real tests won't come until they play Boston and Cleveland on the road. Only then will we get a truer measure of the relative power of the NBA's elite teams.
Bambino Grande
I've always been a little schizophrenic when it comes to Glen Davis.
I love how he seems to come up big in big games, but I hate how he's seems grossly undersized when trying to get his shot off underneath. Even when shooting from the outside, I must confess, his short, stubby arms give his shot something less than an artistic flair.
At the same time, if he starts hitting that 15-to-18 foot jumper on a consistent basis, it's gonna do a couple of things for us. Most obviously, it's gonna give us another scoring weapon. Less obviously, it's gonna open up things for him inside. Bigs forced to defend him on the perimeter won't be allowed to cheat and collapse on him underneath.
I won't tell you who I'm thinking of. But let's just say there was this other undersized power player who, sans an effective jump shot, wouldn't have been nearly as effective inside. With an effective jump shot, he became one of the best undersized power players ever to play the game.
I'm pretty sure Big Baby's ceiling is a little bit lower than that.
I love how he seems to come up big in big games, but I hate how he's seems grossly undersized when trying to get his shot off underneath. Even when shooting from the outside, I must confess, his short, stubby arms give his shot something less than an artistic flair.
At the same time, if he starts hitting that 15-to-18 foot jumper on a consistent basis, it's gonna do a couple of things for us. Most obviously, it's gonna give us another scoring weapon. Less obviously, it's gonna open up things for him inside. Bigs forced to defend him on the perimeter won't be allowed to cheat and collapse on him underneath.
I won't tell you who I'm thinking of. But let's just say there was this other undersized power player who, sans an effective jump shot, wouldn't have been nearly as effective inside. With an effective jump shot, he became one of the best undersized power players ever to play the game.
I'm pretty sure Big Baby's ceiling is a little bit lower than that.
Wilbon
On yesterday's edition of Pardon the Interruption, Michael Wilbon said that the Orlando Magic simply can't beat the Boston Celtics with Dwight Howard matched up against four Celtic big men.
Wow.
Now that's a fresh perspective.
Who was he talking about?
You've got KG and Perk, of course.
The only two Celtic "big men" who played were Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine.
Since the 12/25/08 game against the Lakers, all we have heard is how short and undersized the Celtics are. But now at least one national talking head counts Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine among the league's big men able to help shut down Dwight Howard, the league's preeminent big man.
I'm not going to say I agree or disagree with Wilbon, though 6-9 is the shortest I'd go to call a big man "big" in terms of height. I will say that Big Baby has a history of playing taller than his 6-6 frame might otherwise suggest, at least on defense. Still, I'd like to add some length to this bench. For now, however, it's nice to hear some praise for the Celtic bigs off the bench.
Wow.
Now that's a fresh perspective.
Who was he talking about?
You've got KG and Perk, of course.
The only two Celtic "big men" who played were Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine.
Since the 12/25/08 game against the Lakers, all we have heard is how short and undersized the Celtics are. But now at least one national talking head counts Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine among the league's big men able to help shut down Dwight Howard, the league's preeminent big man.
I'm not going to say I agree or disagree with Wilbon, though 6-9 is the shortest I'd go to call a big man "big" in terms of height. I will say that Big Baby has a history of playing taller than his 6-6 frame might otherwise suggest, at least on defense. Still, I'd like to add some length to this bench. For now, however, it's nice to hear some praise for the Celtic bigs off the bench.
Reali
Tony Reali needs to find a new writer and researcher. During Friday's Around the Horn, Reali said not once, not twice, but three times that the Magic had defeated Boston earlier in the season. I kept thinking, boy, I must have fallen asleep at the switch. They lost to Indiana and then to Denver, and then pretty much didn't lose again until the SLUMP.
Did they lose to the Magic during the SLUMP?
Nope.
So no big deal. Reali just got it wrong, right?
Sort of.
By the time he made his point for the third time, Reali added for emphasis this tidbit.
"They beat Boston earlier in the season and Jameer Nelson didn't even play."
Maybe the NBA season is playing out in a parallel universe nobody else knows about.
Did they lose to the Magic during the SLUMP?
Nope.
So no big deal. Reali just got it wrong, right?
Sort of.
By the time he made his point for the third time, Reali added for emphasis this tidbit.
"They beat Boston earlier in the season and Jameer Nelson didn't even play."
Maybe the NBA season is playing out in a parallel universe nobody else knows about.
KG on the Celtics-Lakers Christmas Day Game
In hindsight, Garnett still laughs to himself about the pressure the Lakers put on themselves leading up to that Christmas Day win. “The Lakers felt like that game was the championship,” he said. “Some of the comments those guys made were incredible, and it was just the regular season. It was kind of comical. But we knew that we just had to move on from that.”
--The Herald
On one hand, I agree with KG. But we need look no further than the February 5th to realize that the Celtics need to return the favor in the rematch. The Cavs still scare me. But there remains the distinct possibility that the green will meet the purple again next June.
We just can't go into the Finals having been swept during the regular season. So joke all you want, KG. The Celtics need to take the rematch as seriously as the Lakers took the first game.
--The Herald
On one hand, I agree with KG. But we need look no further than the February 5th to realize that the Celtics need to return the favor in the rematch. The Cavs still scare me. But there remains the distinct possibility that the green will meet the purple again next June.
We just can't go into the Finals having been swept during the regular season. So joke all you want, KG. The Celtics need to take the rematch as seriously as the Lakers took the first game.
Perk Told Doc to Leave Davis In
Davis was playing so well that Perkins looked back at Doc Rivers to make sure the Celtics coach really wanted to make the move. Rivers agreed and gestured Perkins back to the bench.“I asked him if he wanted to leave (Davis) in,” Perkins said after the 90-80 win. “It seemed to me that that was the right thing to do.”
--Herald
Ubuntu, baby.
--Herald
Ubuntu, baby.
Da Glove on Garnett
Garnett shouldn't be starting. Some guys out there are playing better than him. Chris Bosh [sh]ould take Garnett's spot; he's playing way better than him.
--Boston Globe
Red Auerbach had a conversation with Bill Russell when he first joined the Celtics and the same conversation with Bill Walton when he did. Both players expressed concern that their pay would be tied to statistics.
"That's not how it works with the Celtics," Red replied.
"At the end of the season, my only question is whether you helped us win, and I think I already know the answer to that question."
It strikes me as odd that no Celtic fans, no talking heads, and no writers have called out KG because he's not putting up bigger numbers. But because Chris Bosh's numbers are slightly better than KG's numbers (23/10 v. 16/9), Gary Payton thinks Chris Bosh deserves to start ahead of KG in the All-Star game.
Da Glove always impressed me as a savvy player, wise to the real world of hoops.
Obviously, he fooled me on that one.
--Boston Globe
Red Auerbach had a conversation with Bill Russell when he first joined the Celtics and the same conversation with Bill Walton when he did. Both players expressed concern that their pay would be tied to statistics.
"That's not how it works with the Celtics," Red replied.
"At the end of the season, my only question is whether you helped us win, and I think I already know the answer to that question."
It strikes me as odd that no Celtic fans, no talking heads, and no writers have called out KG because he's not putting up bigger numbers. But because Chris Bosh's numbers are slightly better than KG's numbers (23/10 v. 16/9), Gary Payton thinks Chris Bosh deserves to start ahead of KG in the All-Star game.
Da Glove always impressed me as a savvy player, wise to the real world of hoops.
Obviously, he fooled me on that one.
Athens-Sparta III
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Earlier Meetings
The possibilities of the night ahead danced in the season-ticket holder's mind. He might not always have seen a high tide of public opinion when it was approaching in his life, but he darn well saw this one. He bought early. He was covered.
The Celtics will be playing the Philadelphia 76ers again tonight at the Garden at 7:30 and two of the 15,320 golden tickets belong to him.
"I could see it all coming," the season-ticket holder said yesterday afternoon. "That's why I bought the tickets last year. Philadelphia against Boston. There's nothing like it. By the morning, everyone in the city will be talking about the game. Neighbors across their fences. Guys in little coffee shops.
Read more.
Earlier Meetings
The possibilities of the night ahead danced in the season-ticket holder's mind. He might not always have seen a high tide of public opinion when it was approaching in his life, but he darn well saw this one. He bought early. He was covered.
The Celtics will be playing the Philadelphia 76ers again tonight at the Garden at 7:30 and two of the 15,320 golden tickets belong to him.
"I could see it all coming," the season-ticket holder said yesterday afternoon. "That's why I bought the tickets last year. Philadelphia against Boston. There's nothing like it. By the morning, everyone in the city will be talking about the game. Neighbors across their fences. Guys in little coffee shops.
Read more.
Philly is Banged Up
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Athens-Sparta III
The older Julius Erving gets, the more things seem to stay the same. He's 31 years old now and really shouldn't have to be the focal point of a Philadelphia club that is as talented as it is deep.
But don't be surprised to see The Doctor more involved than ever tonight (7:30, Ch. 4) when the first-place 76ers come to Boston with a 1 1/2 -game lead in the Atlantic Division.
Read more.
Athens-Sparta III
The older Julius Erving gets, the more things seem to stay the same. He's 31 years old now and really shouldn't have to be the focal point of a Philadelphia club that is as talented as it is deep.
But don't be surprised to see The Doctor more involved than ever tonight (7:30, Ch. 4) when the first-place 76ers come to Boston with a 1 1/2 -game lead in the Atlantic Division.
Read more.
A Squared + B Squared = C Squared
The Lakers beat the Celtics in LA.
The Magic swept the Lakers home and away.
The Celtics have swept the Magic thus far, home and away.
Clear as mud?
But wait. There's more.
The Cavaliers, who had defeated Los Angeles five straight times, just lost to the Lakers convincingly, while the Lakers, who had previously owned New Orleans, lost to the Hornets convincingly. The Lakers also lost their only contest with the Spurs this season.
So what conclusions can we draw from all of this?
Leave your Geometry books at home. Logic doesn't apply.
The NBA regular season is simply a long and arduous prelude to what really matters--the postseason. The Celtics still have work to do to shore up holes and weaknesses on their roster. Less than a month left until the NBA trade deadline (Feb 19), and a little more than a month left until playoff rosters are final.
It's good that the Celtics are back on track. But back on track isn't the goal.
The Magic swept the Lakers home and away.
The Celtics have swept the Magic thus far, home and away.
Clear as mud?
But wait. There's more.
The Cavaliers, who had defeated Los Angeles five straight times, just lost to the Lakers convincingly, while the Lakers, who had previously owned New Orleans, lost to the Hornets convincingly. The Lakers also lost their only contest with the Spurs this season.
So what conclusions can we draw from all of this?
Leave your Geometry books at home. Logic doesn't apply.
The NBA regular season is simply a long and arduous prelude to what really matters--the postseason. The Celtics still have work to do to shore up holes and weaknesses on their roster. Less than a month left until the NBA trade deadline (Feb 19), and a little more than a month left until playoff rosters are final.
It's good that the Celtics are back on track. But back on track isn't the goal.
In Case You Missed It
Cavalier message boards and even one newspaper are talking about a deal that would send Wally Szczerbiak to LA for Marcus Camby.
I don't like this idea one bit.
I don't like this idea one bit.
Cavs Unlikely to Trade Snow's Contract
After the Cavs play the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 23, they intend to file paperwork to get Eric Snow declared disabled and removed from their roster. Under the rules, Snow has to miss 41 games this season and that will be the date. If all hurdles are cleared, and there are many of them, including reviews by an independent doctor, the Cavs will save $11 million. It comes in luxury tax savings and insurance payments.
Because of this, the Cavs are not planning to use Snow's $7 million contract in a trade. If they traded him, his new team would not be able to get him declared disabled under the rules, so put that out of your mind.
Because of this, the Cavs are not planning to use Snow's $7 million contract in a trade. If they traded him, his new team would not be able to get him declared disabled under the rules, so put that out of your mind.
Back On Top
Our Superman Outduels Their's
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | ORLANDO | |
| Points | 90 | 80 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 35-75 (.467) | 26-68 (.382) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 0-6 (.000) | 7-22 (.318) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 20-25 (.800) | 21-29 (.724) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 14-40 | 12-36 |
| Assists | 9 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Fast Break Points | 3 | 3 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 27 (1/0) | 22 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead | 16 | 4 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON | ORLANDO | ||
 | P. Pierce Points: 27 Reb: 10 Ast: 4 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |  | R. Lewis Points: 20 Reb: 10 Ast: 2 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |
Big Baby Comes Up Big Off the Bench
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 44 | 8-18 | 0-1 | 11-14 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | +9 | 27 |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 36 | 8-13 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 16 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 25 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 38 | 6-12 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +9 | 12 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 39 | 4-10 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | +8 | 9 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Glen Davis, PF | 21 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +3 | 16 |
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 7 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +5 | 3 |
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 6 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 0 |
| Eddie House, SG | 17 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 0 |
| Leon Powe, PF | 7 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +4 | 0 |
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Bill Walker, SG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 35-75 | 0-6 | 20-25 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 27 | 90 | |||
| 46.7% | 00.0% | 80.0% | Team TO (pts off): 11 (6) | |||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| ORLANDO MAGIC | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Hedo Turkoglu, SF | 39 | 6-15 | 4-7 | 6-8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -4 | 22 |
| Rashard Lewis, PF | 38 | 8-14 | 1-4 | 3-7 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -9 | 20 |
| Dwight Howard, C | 38 | 4-10 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -4 | 11 |
| Courtney Lee, SG | 18 | 0-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -13 | 0 |
| Jameer Nelson, PG | 37 | 6-16 | 1-6 | 4-4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -8 | 17 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Keith Bogans, SG | 10 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 0 |
| Anthony Johnson, PG | 11 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| Marcin Gortat, PF | 9 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 |
| J.J. Redick, SG | 27 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| Tony Battie, C | 13 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Adonal Foyle, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Brian Cook, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 26-68 | 7-22 | 21-29 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 22 | 80 | |||
| 38.2% | 31.8% | 72.4% | Team TO (pts off): 14 (12) | |||||||||||
C's Seek to Avoid Shrapnel Against Magic
Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.?
That's a tough one, but I'll give it a shot.
Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. So I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never had a problem with get killed.
Now the politicians are sayin', "Send in the marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a sh**t. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number was called, 'cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some guy from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass. And he comes home to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, 'cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks.
Meanwhile my buddy from Southie realizes the only reason he was over there was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And of course the oil companies used the skirmish to scare up oil prices so they could turn a quick buck. A cute little ancillary benefit for them but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And naturally they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic.
So my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin' 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what do I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. Why not just shoot my buddy, take his job and give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.
--Good Will Hunting
That's a tough one, but I'll give it a shot.
Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. So I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never had a problem with get killed.
Now the politicians are sayin', "Send in the marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a sh**t. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number was called, 'cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some guy from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass. And he comes home to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, 'cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks.
Meanwhile my buddy from Southie realizes the only reason he was over there was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And of course the oil companies used the skirmish to scare up oil prices so they could turn a quick buck. A cute little ancillary benefit for them but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And naturally they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic.
So my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin' 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what do I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. Why not just shoot my buddy, take his job and give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.
--Good Will Hunting
Marbury to Greece?
According to a report last night by ESPN.com, a team from Greece, Olympiacos, contacted the Knicks yesterday to discuss how to get Marbury out of his contract so they can bring the exiled point guard to the Mediterranean.
Read more.
Read more.
About that Win Over the Suns
Speaking of keeping it real, the Celtics 97-point win over the Suns loses some of its luster when you realize that the Suns have lost four of five, including a home game against Minnesota and a road game against the Knicks.
Eddie House vis-a-vis Andrew Bynum
I'd feel a whole lot better about House's performance last night had Andrew Bynum not gone Wilt against the Clippers.
Ray Allen
Other than Sam Cassell, Ray Allen is the oldest Celtic, and yet he's tied with Paul Pierce for team lead in minutes per game at 36. Last night he played 38. Yes, he's playing better this year. Yes, he's healthier this year.
But don't we want to preserve this guy a little? We know Doc is familiar with the idea of preservation. Every time he talks about KG, he talks about stretching out his career by managing his minutes. He talks about getting more bang for his buck from Cassell by postponing his 2009 debut until later in the season.
As players get older, coaches are supposed to use them less. Doc is actually playing Ray more this year than he did last year. He must not read my blog or he'd realize the perils or running your starters into the ground during January.
But don't we want to preserve this guy a little? We know Doc is familiar with the idea of preservation. Every time he talks about KG, he talks about stretching out his career by managing his minutes. He talks about getting more bang for his buck from Cassell by postponing his 2009 debut until later in the season.
As players get older, coaches are supposed to use them less. Doc is actually playing Ray more this year than he did last year. He must not read my blog or he'd realize the perils or running your starters into the ground during January.
Celtics Outrebound Heat 48-30
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | MIAMI | |
| Points | 98 | 83 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 37-72 (.514) | 32-80 (.400) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 15-25 (.600) | 7-25 (.280) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 9-13 (.692) | 12-16 (.750) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 11-48 | 6-30 |
| Assists | 21 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 21 | 11 |
| Steals | 7 | 14 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Fast Break Points | 8 | 21 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 17 (0/0) | 14 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead | 23 | 0 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON | MIAMI | ||
| R. Allen Points: 27 Reb: 5 Ast: 5 Stl: 1 Blk: 0 |  | D. Wade Points: 25 Reb: 4 Ast: 4 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| BOSTON | MIAMI | |
| Points | R. Allen 27 | D. Wade 25 |
| Rebounds | K. Garnett 13 | M. Beasley 11 |
| Assists | R. Rondo 10 | M. Chalmers 7 |
| Steals | K. Garnett 3 | M. Chalmers 4 |
| Blocks | K. Perkins 1 | D. Cook 1 |
| · Team stats: Boston | Miami | ||
Celtics Improve Road Record to 14-7
7:30 PM ET, January 21, 2009
AmericanAirlines Arena
Miami, FL
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 34 | 6-14 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +10 | 14 |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 32 | 6-12 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +16 | 16 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 23 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +25 | 2 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 38 | 9-12 | 5-6 | 4-4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +18 | 27 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 34 | 3-7 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +23 | 7 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 23 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -9 | 3 |
| Leon Powe, PF | 8 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 0 |
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -7 | 0 |
| Eddie House, SG | 26 | 9-15 | 7-11 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +5 | 25 |
| Glen Davis, PF | 10 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 4 |
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 |
| Sam Cassell, PG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 37-72 | 15-25 | 9-13 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 98 | |||
| 51.4% | 60.0% | 69.2% | Team TO (pts off): 21 (26) | |||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| MIAMI HEAT | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Shawn Marion, SF | 8 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -12 | 2 |
| Udonis Haslem, PF | 35 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -21 | 4 |
| Joel Anthony, C | 14 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -10 | 0 |
| Dwyane Wade, SG | 43 | 9-17 | 2-5 | 5-7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | -17 | 25 |
| Mario Chalmers, PG | 31 | 3-9 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -12 | 6 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Michael Beasley, PF | 41 | 6-16 | 1-3 | 4-6 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 17 |
| Daequan Cook, SG | 39 | 8-19 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -7 | 20 |
| Yakhouba Diawara, SF | 8 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 |
| Chris Quinn, PG | 12 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
| Jamaal Magloire, C | 6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 0 |
| James Jones, SF | 4 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| Mark Blount, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 32-80 | 7-25 | 12-16 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 83 | |||
| 40.0% | 28.0% | 75.0% | Team TO (pts off): 11 (19) | |||||||||||
House Afire!
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| BOS (34-9) | 29 | 28 | 57 | ||
| MIA (22-18) | 10 | 24 | 34 |
Halftime
| OSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Ray Allen, SG | 17 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 4-4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +21 | 14 | |||
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 18 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +28 | 5 | |||
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 15 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +21 | 8 | |||
| Paul Pierce, SF | 16 | 4-6 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +21 | 10 | |||
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 13 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +23 | 0 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Leon Powe, PF | 7 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 0 | |||
| J.R. Giddens, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Tony Allen, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Sam Cassell, PG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Eddie House, SG | 12 | 7-10 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 20 | |||
| Glen Davis, PF | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 0 | |||
| Bill Walker, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 10 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 0 | |||
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 19-35 | 10-16 | 9-12 | 6 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 57 | ||||||
| 54.3% | 62.5% | 75.0% | Team TO (pts off): 11 (9) | |||||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||||
| MIAMI HEAT | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Mario Chalmers, PG | 11 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -13 | 0 | |||
| Shawn Marion, SF | 7 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -8 | 2 | |||
| Udonis Haslem, PF | 16 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -23 | 2 | |||
| Dwyane Wade, SG | 23 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -21 | 10 | |||
| Joel Anthony, C | 5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 0 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Jamaal Magloire, C | 6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Chris Quinn, PG | 2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | |||
| Marcus Banks, PG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Michael Beasley, PF | 18 | 2-7 | 1-2 | 3-3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -11 | 8 | |||
| Yakhouba Diawara, SF | 3 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7 | 0 | |||
| Daequan Cook, SG | 17 | 5-11 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -8 | 12 | |||
| James Jones, SF | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Dorell Wright, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Mark Blount, C | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 14-42 | 3-10 | 3-5 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 34 | ||||||
| 33.3% | 30.0% | 60.0% | Team TO (pts off): 7 (12) | |||||||||||||
Da Heat & Da Hammer
So I think I got the Green figured out (how many times have I said that?).
During the SLUMP and for several games during the STREAK, they just kind of stumbled and bumbled their way through the first three quarters, and then figured, kind of like the mid-1980s Celtics, they'd put the pedal to the metal and take over in the fourth.
But as they found out during the SLUMP, it doesn't matter how hard you press the pedal. If you don't have any gas in the tank, you're screwed.
Lately, the green have taken a different approach. It hearkens back to the 1990-91 season, when the green tried to put every game on ice by the third quarter. That guaranteed low minutes and lots of rest for the starters.
Problem is that the Heat aren't necessarily pushovers, and the green isn't necessarily a juggernaut on the road.
So tonight should be interesting.
During the SLUMP and for several games during the STREAK, they just kind of stumbled and bumbled their way through the first three quarters, and then figured, kind of like the mid-1980s Celtics, they'd put the pedal to the metal and take over in the fourth.
But as they found out during the SLUMP, it doesn't matter how hard you press the pedal. If you don't have any gas in the tank, you're screwed.
Lately, the green have taken a different approach. It hearkens back to the 1990-91 season, when the green tried to put every game on ice by the third quarter. That guaranteed low minutes and lots of rest for the starters.
Problem is that the Heat aren't necessarily pushovers, and the green isn't necessarily a juggernaut on the road.
So tonight should be interesting.
Spending Money on Crap
I made so many Celtic-inspired purchases in 2007-08, I couldn't even bring myself to add it all up. Ordinarily, I pinch my pennies. But once the KG trade went down, I knew it was gonna be a season for the ages. The problem was that gave me 10 months until the Finals even started. Once banner 17 was in the bag, the buying started anew.
Then the economy crashed, and the buying of everything but essentials stopped.
I still haven't added up all I spent on the C's. But I did write it all down, and, boy, I bought a truck load.
At Christmas, I decided I had probably bought enough for a few years to come.
But that didn't stop me for asking for some gift cards. I knew with the economy in the crapper, some great deals would be coming my way. And, sure enough, they did.
No new Celtics stuff. So I got some Sox caps at about 3/4 off.
Hopefully the guy who visits my MVN site won't read this. He actually threatened me for saying I was a Sox fan.
I mean, whaddya want for nothing?
Rubber biscuit...
Then the economy crashed, and the buying of everything but essentials stopped.
I still haven't added up all I spent on the C's. But I did write it all down, and, boy, I bought a truck load.
At Christmas, I decided I had probably bought enough for a few years to come.
But that didn't stop me for asking for some gift cards. I knew with the economy in the crapper, some great deals would be coming my way. And, sure enough, they did.
No new Celtics stuff. So I got some Sox caps at about 3/4 off.
Hopefully the guy who visits my MVN site won't read this. He actually threatened me for saying I was a Sox fan.
I mean, whaddya want for nothing?
Rubber biscuit...
Bill Walker as a Power 3
Bill Walker is a fun guy to watch. He brings it on every play, and his teammates seem to feed off of his enthusiasm. He's not short on inside moves, and, based on reports, not short on an outside game.
But he is short, and fairly thin, if Celtics fans are to think of him as a "power" 3.
And this troubles me, at least until my perspective returns.
It troubles me because when I look at him, I see the attitude of a power player, but I don't see the body of one. From a distance, he's not easily distinguished from point guards on the floor. Even up close, Walker's physique doesn't stand out from that of the slender Gabe Pruitt.
Walker plays the 3, but that might only be because his game isn't adaptable to the needs at the shooting guard. I think of Paul Pierce as a power player, someone who bulls his way through the lane to get easy hoops and lots of trips to the stripe. But Bill Walker isn't Paul Pierce. Walker is shorter and lighter than Pierce, even when measured against Pierce's weight as a rookie.
I'm not saying Walker can't contribute. He can. He has the moxie the second unit badly needs. I'm just not sure he's a big-minute guy. I think he'd do fine against the Luke Waltons and Trevor Arizas of the world. I'm not so sure he'd do as well against taller, more talented timber.
So it will be interesting to see how often he plays and against whom he is matched.
But he is short, and fairly thin, if Celtics fans are to think of him as a "power" 3.
And this troubles me, at least until my perspective returns.
It troubles me because when I look at him, I see the attitude of a power player, but I don't see the body of one. From a distance, he's not easily distinguished from point guards on the floor. Even up close, Walker's physique doesn't stand out from that of the slender Gabe Pruitt.
Walker plays the 3, but that might only be because his game isn't adaptable to the needs at the shooting guard. I think of Paul Pierce as a power player, someone who bulls his way through the lane to get easy hoops and lots of trips to the stripe. But Bill Walker isn't Paul Pierce. Walker is shorter and lighter than Pierce, even when measured against Pierce's weight as a rookie.
I'm not saying Walker can't contribute. He can. He has the moxie the second unit badly needs. I'm just not sure he's a big-minute guy. I think he'd do fine against the Luke Waltons and Trevor Arizas of the world. I'm not so sure he'd do as well against taller, more talented timber.
So it will be interesting to see how often he plays and against whom he is matched.
The Nets Remember Miracle Milt
New York Post
January 17, 2009
It came and went without fanfare. We were busy re-gifting Aunt Mabel's holiday fruitcake, forwarding it to another generation of unsuspecting victims. But Dec. 28 represented the eighth anniversary of an all-time benchmark of Nets futility.
The Milt Palacio game with Boston.
Yeah, "that" game, Dec. 28, 2000.
Read more.
January 17, 2009
It came and went without fanfare. We were busy re-gifting Aunt Mabel's holiday fruitcake, forwarding it to another generation of unsuspecting victims. But Dec. 28 represented the eighth anniversary of an all-time benchmark of Nets futility.
The Milt Palacio game with Boston.
Yeah, "that" game, Dec. 28, 2000.
Read more.
Lowly Bulls Give Celtics Lesson in Humility
Celtics Suffer Second Loss at Home
C's Fall to 23-8
1981-82 Boston Celtics
The strangest thing was not that the Celtics lost last night to a team they had beaten 14 times in the last 15 attempts. It was the way the upset transpired. The NBA champions were blown away when it counted. The Celtics were outscored, 32-16, over the game's final eight minutes en route to a 116-102 lesson in humility.
Neither frantic substitutions nor a frenzed home crowd near the end made any difference. The Bulls scored 11 of their final 13 times down court that included two nearly insulting stuffs by ordinarily anonymous Dwight Jones.
Read more.
C's Fall to 23-8
1981-82 Boston Celtics
The strangest thing was not that the Celtics lost last night to a team they had beaten 14 times in the last 15 attempts. It was the way the upset transpired. The NBA champions were blown away when it counted. The Celtics were outscored, 32-16, over the game's final eight minutes en route to a 116-102 lesson in humility.
Neither frantic substitutions nor a frenzed home crowd near the end made any difference. The Bulls scored 11 of their final 13 times down court that included two nearly insulting stuffs by ordinarily anonymous Dwight Jones.
Read more.
Walton, Celtics Face Off Seven Months before Bill Goes Green
From the Series
What Was Bill Walton Doing in 1984?
December 28, 1984
Boston's frequent flyers did it again last night. They invaded another Western town, shot the pretenders out of the saddle and flew off into the sunset.
Last night's victim was the Walton Gang, a/k/a the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing in the same building where the ancient Celtics regularly beat the Jerry West/Elgin Baylor Lakers, Boston defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 118-103, in front of 15,371 fans, including Jack Nicholson, Mike Warren, Debbie Allen, Rick James, Howie Long, Congressman Ed Markey, and Dancing Barry. So who says everybody is in Dallas?
The Celtics impressed all of the above with a brilliant 9-0 stretch late in the fourth quarter, which transformed a six-point lead into a 110-95 blowout with 3:55 left.
Boston's Sprained Ankle Twins - Dennis Johnson (25 points) and Kevin McHale (27 points) - orchestrated the pivotal surge. It started when Larry Bird (13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists) scored on a great feed from Danny Ainge. DJ (six steals) stripped the ball from Norm Nixon and hit a free throw. Bird rebounded a Derek Smith miss (partially blocked by DJ) and McHale hit a turnaround. Then DJ stole the ball again, and Ainge scored on a break to make it 108-95. After a Clipper timeout, McHale scored two more to make it 110-95. McHale destroyed the Clippers with 18 in the fourth quarter.
"And to think both McHale and DJ had sprained ankles five days ago," sighed Bill Walton (19 points, 12 rebounds). "That's a tribute to a trainer named Ray Melchiorre."
"Kevin McHale found a home down low," said Celtics coach K.C. Jones. "They couldn't handle him. It was a mismatch and we stayed with it. When Walton is guarding Robert Parish, who's going to guard Kevin? We said, 'Let's go in that direction.' "
"They had to take it inside," shrugged Walton. "But I thought Larry was the one who played a great game. Hey, he had 13 across the board. He's the most unselfish player in the league." Informed of Walton's praise, Bird joked, "He's just gettin' to figurin' that out now?"
The victory improved Boston's record to 25-5, pushed the Celtics two games ahead of the Sixers and marked the second time in two nights that Boston snapped a win streak. The Clippers had won five straight home games. Phoenix, a 119-114 Boston victim on Wednesday, had won six in a row at home.
Clipper coach Jim Lynam started Smith, a 6-6 guard, on Bird, with Junior Bridgeman assigned to DJ. Lynam must have seen the Milwaukee-Boston game film. Buck guard Paul Pressey held Bird to one field goal in the second half last week. Bird scored only one field goal in the first quarter last night.
Walton scored eight points, had five rebounds and bothered the Celtics at the defensive end throughout the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Celtics shot 30 percent (7 for 23), committed five turnovers and trailed, 24-21, after one.
Boston awoke, canning 10 of its first 11 shots in the second period. Smith (21 points) kept the heat on at both ends. He gave Bird trouble, and scored from inside and out to keep the Clippers on top. Nixon (22) and Smith fired the Clippers to within six (99-93) with seven minutes left before DJ and McHale took over.
Walton, who knows something about champions, added, "They all look to do it themselves, and yet they all have a lot of confidence in their teammates. It happens to every team that wins a championship. They come back the following year and their play is improved. They move the ball around better."
What Was Bill Walton Doing in 1984?
December 28, 1984
Boston's frequent flyers did it again last night. They invaded another Western town, shot the pretenders out of the saddle and flew off into the sunset.
Last night's victim was the Walton Gang, a/k/a the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing in the same building where the ancient Celtics regularly beat the Jerry West/Elgin Baylor Lakers, Boston defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 118-103, in front of 15,371 fans, including Jack Nicholson, Mike Warren, Debbie Allen, Rick James, Howie Long, Congressman Ed Markey, and Dancing Barry. So who says everybody is in Dallas?
The Celtics impressed all of the above with a brilliant 9-0 stretch late in the fourth quarter, which transformed a six-point lead into a 110-95 blowout with 3:55 left.
Boston's Sprained Ankle Twins - Dennis Johnson (25 points) and Kevin McHale (27 points) - orchestrated the pivotal surge. It started when Larry Bird (13 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists) scored on a great feed from Danny Ainge. DJ (six steals) stripped the ball from Norm Nixon and hit a free throw. Bird rebounded a Derek Smith miss (partially blocked by DJ) and McHale hit a turnaround. Then DJ stole the ball again, and Ainge scored on a break to make it 108-95. After a Clipper timeout, McHale scored two more to make it 110-95. McHale destroyed the Clippers with 18 in the fourth quarter.
"And to think both McHale and DJ had sprained ankles five days ago," sighed Bill Walton (19 points, 12 rebounds). "That's a tribute to a trainer named Ray Melchiorre."
"Kevin McHale found a home down low," said Celtics coach K.C. Jones. "They couldn't handle him. It was a mismatch and we stayed with it. When Walton is guarding Robert Parish, who's going to guard Kevin? We said, 'Let's go in that direction.' "
"They had to take it inside," shrugged Walton. "But I thought Larry was the one who played a great game. Hey, he had 13 across the board. He's the most unselfish player in the league." Informed of Walton's praise, Bird joked, "He's just gettin' to figurin' that out now?"
The victory improved Boston's record to 25-5, pushed the Celtics two games ahead of the Sixers and marked the second time in two nights that Boston snapped a win streak. The Clippers had won five straight home games. Phoenix, a 119-114 Boston victim on Wednesday, had won six in a row at home.
Clipper coach Jim Lynam started Smith, a 6-6 guard, on Bird, with Junior Bridgeman assigned to DJ. Lynam must have seen the Milwaukee-Boston game film. Buck guard Paul Pressey held Bird to one field goal in the second half last week. Bird scored only one field goal in the first quarter last night.
Walton scored eight points, had five rebounds and bothered the Celtics at the defensive end throughout the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Celtics shot 30 percent (7 for 23), committed five turnovers and trailed, 24-21, after one.
Boston awoke, canning 10 of its first 11 shots in the second period. Smith (21 points) kept the heat on at both ends. He gave Bird trouble, and scored from inside and out to keep the Clippers on top. Nixon (22) and Smith fired the Clippers to within six (99-93) with seven minutes left before DJ and McHale took over.
Walton, who knows something about champions, added, "They all look to do it themselves, and yet they all have a lot of confidence in their teammates. It happens to every team that wins a championship. They come back the following year and their play is improved. They move the ball around better."
P-R-I-D-E
Antoine Walker's Rookie Season
2/1/97
You have heard of inspirational halftime speeches. They are a part of sports. To get their teams out of deep funks, coaches attempt to summon words that will act as verbal kicks in the backside.
That didn't happen for the Celtics and M.L. Carr last night at the FleetCenter. Here's why: Some people don't listen well after being awakened abruptly. And since the Celtics were virtually snoring through the first half against the Trail Blazers, trailing by 18 points, Carr decided he didn't need to be an orator at halftime. Instead, he needed to write.
So "pride" was scribbled on a board. The Celtics then took the court, slipped behind by 23, and came back to win, 111-105. They broke a seven-game losing streak and earned their first win in 10 Friday night games at home. Antoine Walker said he had "a bad game" but still managed 16 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.
2/1/97
You have heard of inspirational halftime speeches. They are a part of sports. To get their teams out of deep funks, coaches attempt to summon words that will act as verbal kicks in the backside.
That didn't happen for the Celtics and M.L. Carr last night at the FleetCenter. Here's why: Some people don't listen well after being awakened abruptly. And since the Celtics were virtually snoring through the first half against the Trail Blazers, trailing by 18 points, Carr decided he didn't need to be an orator at halftime. Instead, he needed to write.
So "pride" was scribbled on a board. The Celtics then took the court, slipped behind by 23, and came back to win, 111-105. They broke a seven-game losing streak and earned their first win in 10 Friday night games at home. Antoine Walker said he had "a bad game" but still managed 16 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.
Back-to-Back Road Games against Heat, Magic Loom
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| PHOENIX | BOSTON | |
| Points | 87 | 104 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 34-72 (.472) | 45-94 (.479) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 4-11 (.364) | 5-15 (.333) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 15-21 (.714) | 9-14 (.643) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 5-39 | 11-42 |
| Assists | 17 | 30 |
| Turnovers | 23 | 13 |
| Steals | 3 | 12 |
| Blocks | 9 | 3 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 15 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 16 (0/0) | 22 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead | 0 | 35 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| PHOENIX | BOSTON | ||
 | S. O'Neal Points: 16 Reb: 11 Ast: 2 Stl: 0 Blk: 2 |  | R. Rondo Points: 23 Reb: 5 Ast: 7 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| PHOENIX | BOSTON | |
| Points | S. O'Neal 16 | R. Rondo 23 |
| Rebounds | S. O'Neal 11 | G. Davis 9 |
| Assists | S. Nash 8 | P. Pierce 8 |
| Steals | L. Amundson 2 | K. Garnett 3 |
| Blocks | L. Amundson 3 | K. Garnett 1 |
| · Team stats: Phoenix | Boston | ||
C's Crush Suns
| Phoenix Suns (23-16) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| G.Hill | F | 26:50 | 4-10 | 2-3 | 0-0 | -15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| A.Stoudemire | F | 30:17 | 0-7 | 0-0 | 3-4 | -21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| S.O'Neal | C | 30:16 | 8-13 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -26 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| J.Richardson | G | 27:53 | 4-7 | 0-2 | 0-1 | -24 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| S.Nash | G | 32:07 | 5-7 | 2-2 | 0-0 | -23 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| L.Amundson | 22:58 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
| L.Barbosa | 17:29 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 1-1 | -11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| M.Barnes | 13:52 | 1-7 | 0-3 | 0-0 | -14 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| R.Lopez | 12:29 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | +13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| A.Tucker | 12:00 | 4-6 | 0-1 | 3-4 | +14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| J.Dudley | 07:18 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| G.Dragic | 06:31 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 4-4 | +10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 34-72 | 4-11 | 15-21 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 87 | ||
| 47.2% | 36.4% | 71.4% | Team Rebs: 7 | Total TO: 23 | ||||||||||||
| Boston Celtics (34-9) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P.Pierce | F | 32:34 | 6-15 | 0-3 | 0-0 | +26 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| K.Garnett | F | 25:08 | 7-10 | 0-0 | 2-2 | +24 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| B.Scalabrine | C | 33:26 | 2-8 | 0-3 | 0-0 | +18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| R.Allen | G | 32:07 | 8-12 | 4-5 | 0-0 | +23 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| R.Rondo | G | 29:41 | 9-15 | 1-1 | 4-7 | +22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| G.Davis | 22:50 | 4-10 | 0-0 | 1-2 | +10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| E.House | 18:42 | 3-10 | 0-3 | 0-0 | -5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| L.Powe | 22:30 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 1-1 | -7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | |
| G.Pruitt | 12:00 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| P.O'Bryant | 05:32 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| B.Walker | 05:32 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| S.Cassell | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 45-94 | 5-15 | 9-14 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 30 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 104 | ||
| 47.9% | 33.3% | 64.3% | Team Rebs: 10 | Total TO: 13 | ||||||||||||
Bird Fails to Reach Double Figures . . . Again
1990-91 Boston Celtics
November 24, 1990
It hasn't happened often, only 17 times in 803 games. And a few of those times there were extenuating circumstances. But for the second time this season, Larry Bird failed to reach double figures in scoring. He managed 9 points in 28 minutes last night as the Celtics dispatched the Kings, 115-105. He had 5 against Milwaukee Nov. 13.
Excluding ejections and injuries, it was the first time Bird failed to hit double figures at home since Jan. 6, 1982, when he had 9 points in 43 minutes against Chicago. Bird was 3 for 8 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line. All his points came in the first half. He took only two shots in the third quarter and sat out the entire fourth period.
Bird would have had 10 points, but missed his final free throw in the late stages of the second quarter. That miss snapped a streak of 19 straight. Bird was held to single figures only once last year, a 9-point effort in Seattle.
November 24, 1990
It hasn't happened often, only 17 times in 803 games. And a few of those times there were extenuating circumstances. But for the second time this season, Larry Bird failed to reach double figures in scoring. He managed 9 points in 28 minutes last night as the Celtics dispatched the Kings, 115-105. He had 5 against Milwaukee Nov. 13.
Excluding ejections and injuries, it was the first time Bird failed to hit double figures at home since Jan. 6, 1982, when he had 9 points in 43 minutes against Chicago. Bird was 3 for 8 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line. All his points came in the first half. He took only two shots in the third quarter and sat out the entire fourth period.
Bird would have had 10 points, but missed his final free throw in the late stages of the second quarter. That miss snapped a streak of 19 straight. Bird was held to single figures only once last year, a 9-point effort in Seattle.
Dee Brown, Brian Shaw Lead Way to Another Win
Green Improves to 9-2
1990-91 Boston Celtics
November 24, 1990
All in all, there wasn't much more Chris Ford could have wanted from this one. His team won again, handily. His bellwethers got long breathers. And his competition tonight had a tough battle on the road.
One of the brightest spots for the green was rookie Dee Brown, who had his best game. His third quarter alone was impressive (8 points, 4 assists.) He finished with 14 points and 8 assists. Brian Shaw also came up big, scoring 20.
Read more.
1990-91 Boston Celtics
November 24, 1990
All in all, there wasn't much more Chris Ford could have wanted from this one. His team won again, handily. His bellwethers got long breathers. And his competition tonight had a tough battle on the road.
One of the brightest spots for the green was rookie Dee Brown, who had his best game. His third quarter alone was impressive (8 points, 4 assists.) He finished with 14 points and 8 assists. Brian Shaw also came up big, scoring 20.
Read more.
Mon, Jan 19 Phoenix 8:00 PM TNT
Wed, Jan 21 @ Miami 7:30 PM CSNN
Thu, Jan 22 @ Orlando 8:00 PM TNT
Sun, Jan 25 Dallas 1:00 PM ABC
Wed, Jan 28 Sacramento 7:30 PM CSNN
Fri, Jan 30 @ Detroit 7:00 PM ESPN
Fitch to Start Playing Five Guards
1981-82 Boston Celtics
It will be nothing really new, coach Bill Fitch insists. Still, it should be a little different.
Starting with the Celtics ' game tonight at the Garden against the Chicago Bulls (WRKO, 7:30), Fitch may try to give playing time to five different guards while making certain that M.L. Carr sees action at forward. And the coach will juggle Carr and Larry Bird between frontcourt and backcourt assignments if the situation demands it.
"It's simple enough," Fitch replied when asked if it could be dangerous to tinker with a championship team. "We want to give (Danny) Ainge more playing time," Fitch explained. "He's come along fine, and now for the next six or seven games we want to see what he can do." Fitch said he may begin to play the much-publicized rookie for about 20 minutes a game, twice his average playing time to date. Because Ainge is expected to be primarily a point guard, his expanded role should mean fewer minutes for Tiny Archibald.
"And (Charles) Bradley has to get some playing time. He's making progress," Fitch added. So it's possible that Chris Ford and Gerry Henderson may surrender some minutes, although the latter has been at the top of his game of late.
It will be nothing really new, coach Bill Fitch insists. Still, it should be a little different.
Starting with the Celtics ' game tonight at the Garden against the Chicago Bulls (WRKO, 7:30), Fitch may try to give playing time to five different guards while making certain that M.L. Carr sees action at forward. And the coach will juggle Carr and Larry Bird between frontcourt and backcourt assignments if the situation demands it.
"It's simple enough," Fitch replied when asked if it could be dangerous to tinker with a championship team. "We want to give (Danny) Ainge more playing time," Fitch explained. "He's come along fine, and now for the next six or seven games we want to see what he can do." Fitch said he may begin to play the much-publicized rookie for about 20 minutes a game, twice his average playing time to date. Because Ainge is expected to be primarily a point guard, his expanded role should mean fewer minutes for Tiny Archibald.
"And (Charles) Bradley has to get some playing time. He's making progress," Fitch added. So it's possible that Chris Ford and Gerry Henderson may surrender some minutes, although the latter has been at the top of his game of late.
Bad Boy David Thompson
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of professional sports, where a two-game suspension is naught but a $19,513.94 slap on the wrist.
I am speaking, of course, of David Thompson, the one-time All-America boy who has become such a headache to the Denver Nuggets. It is documented that when Nuggets GM Carl Scheer gave Thompson his celebrated $800,000-a- year contract then-coach Larry Brown protested, saying it would ruin the athlete. Brown's prophecy has been proven to be correct. This is clearly not the same David Thompson that emerged from North Carolina State with such an untarnished personal reputation.
Read more
Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of professional sports, where a two-game suspension is naught but a $19,513.94 slap on the wrist.
I am speaking, of course, of David Thompson, the one-time All-America boy who has become such a headache to the Denver Nuggets. It is documented that when Nuggets GM Carl Scheer gave Thompson his celebrated $800,000-a- year contract then-coach Larry Brown protested, saying it would ruin the athlete. Brown's prophecy has been proven to be correct. This is clearly not the same David Thompson that emerged from North Carolina State with such an untarnished personal reputation.
Read more
Good Ernie D Article
You couldn't expect these kids to remember Ernie DiGregorio. Tell them he was an NBA Rookie of the Year, the third pick in the entire draft, they might not believe you.
They could always Google the name. It's all there. The assists. The magical passes. Top NBA foul shooter twice. Here's a gem: He played the first half of his final year with the Los Angeles Lakers and the second half with the Boston Celtics.
That's right, kids. Ernie DiGregorio. He was something to see, anyone over 50 will tell ya. DiGregorio's height made him all the more appealing to fans. "Red Auerbach told me I was one of the few players in the NBA that sold tickets." DiGregorio's passing was astonishing. He'd show you something different every night, usually a pass you thought could never be made. "Bob Cousy told me I reminded him of himself more than anyone else." Now that's high praise from The Passing God.
Read more.
McHale Regains Rhythm
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/23/1990
Chris Ford admittedly was a little worried about Kevin McHale during the preseason. He was worried about what in the world was troubling McHale's offense. He was worried that it would take some time for McHale to get his offense jump-started. "We were all worried, because he couldn't throw the ball in the ocean," said the Celtics coach.
Read more.
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/23/1990
Chris Ford admittedly was a little worried about Kevin McHale during the preseason. He was worried about what in the world was troubling McHale's offense. He was worried that it would take some time for McHale to get his offense jump-started. "We were all worried, because he couldn't throw the ball in the ocean," said the Celtics coach.
Read more.
Grampa Celtic on How KC Jones Used the Bench
The Mark Acres Chronicles: The Last in the SeriesMay 1988
Five couldn't beat seven or eight, and it certainly couldn't beat nine. The sad reality of the Celtics' playoff demise is that this much-discussed bench crisis never had to be.
This could hardly be termed second-guessing, either, not when everyone watching this team since the fall has recognized that in Reggie Lewis and Brad Lohaus, the Celtics finally had those fresh, young and talented bodies people have been longing for in these parts. Could they have made a difference against the armed might of Chuck Daly's well-stocked Pistons? Probably not.
They weren't ready to play. Could they have made a difference if they were ready to play?
Ah, that's an entirely different matter.
Read more.
Another Rim Job
The Lakers victory on 12/25 put a damper on the NBA season for me. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Kobe Bryant had a chance to tie Friday night's game and send it into overtime. He had a wide open look from range and missed. More specifically, the ball went in the cylinder, rattled back-and-forth off the rim and then bounced out.
Game over.
It seems like just yesterday that the Zen Mistress and his players were blaming unfriendly rims at the Gahden for their defeat in game 1 of the NBA Finals. I didn't catch the postgame press conference and interviews at Staples last night, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that there was plenty of talk about an unlucky bounce.
On Monday, MLK Day, we'll find out how well the purple match up against the Cavs. My guess? No better than they do against the Magic, and probably worse. We'll also get to see the purple-green rematch in early February.
God, please don't make me endure a regular season sweep against these clowns.
Game over.
It seems like just yesterday that the Zen Mistress and his players were blaming unfriendly rims at the Gahden for their defeat in game 1 of the NBA Finals. I didn't catch the postgame press conference and interviews at Staples last night, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that there was plenty of talk about an unlucky bounce.
On Monday, MLK Day, we'll find out how well the purple match up against the Cavs. My guess? No better than they do against the Magic, and probably worse. We'll also get to see the purple-green rematch in early February.
God, please don't make me endure a regular season sweep against these clowns.
"That's a lot of Hostility"
I watched the Magic-Purple game last night with some folks who know me but don't know much about my basketball-watching habits other than that I am a Celtics' fan.
Their initial assessment was surprise:
"I thought you were a Celtics' fan! When did you start rooting for the Orlando Magic?"
"Tonight." I said. "For me the basketball world is reduced to two things, rooting for the green and rooting against the purple."
"That's a lot of hostility, Lex. I'm not sure I'd call what I see rooting against a team so much as an expression of Two Minutes Hate from Orwell's 1984."
They had a point.
As a general matter, I can get through most every day without even thinking about the purple, much less getting worked up over them. But once I commit to watching them play, it's as if I summon up every negative thought and feeling from the 1980s and just spend the entire game venting, or maybe the the right word is "exploding." I'll never forget game 5 of the 1986 Western Conference Finals because it was such a cathartic moment.
"Yeah, Lex. I'm gonna have to think about this. You're so mellow. It's hard for me to imagine that something like a basketball game can transform you into a raging lunatic."
"Every basketball season has two ways to end happily," I said. "The Celtics can win and the Lakers can lose. I can live with the Celtics losing. I can't live with the Lakers winning. So every big game they lose is another sign that I'll have a happy offseason."
Silence descended over the table as they absorbed this odd human behavior that I've allowed to occupy my being.
Their initial assessment was surprise:
"I thought you were a Celtics' fan! When did you start rooting for the Orlando Magic?"
"Tonight." I said. "For me the basketball world is reduced to two things, rooting for the green and rooting against the purple."
"That's a lot of hostility, Lex. I'm not sure I'd call what I see rooting against a team so much as an expression of Two Minutes Hate from Orwell's 1984."
They had a point.
As a general matter, I can get through most every day without even thinking about the purple, much less getting worked up over them. But once I commit to watching them play, it's as if I summon up every negative thought and feeling from the 1980s and just spend the entire game venting, or maybe the the right word is "exploding." I'll never forget game 5 of the 1986 Western Conference Finals because it was such a cathartic moment.
"Yeah, Lex. I'm gonna have to think about this. You're so mellow. It's hard for me to imagine that something like a basketball game can transform you into a raging lunatic."
"Every basketball season has two ways to end happily," I said. "The Celtics can win and the Lakers can lose. I can live with the Celtics losing. I can't live with the Lakers winning. So every big game they lose is another sign that I'll have a happy offseason."
Silence descended over the table as they absorbed this odd human behavior that I've allowed to occupy my being.
Veal Impresses over Last Four Games
| Last 5 Games Complete Game Log | Rebounds | ||||||||||||||
| DATE | OPP | RESULT | MIN | FG | 3P | FT | STL | BLK | TO | PF | OFF | DEF | TOT | AST | PTS |
| @Cle | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| @Tor | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |||||
| Tor | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | |||||
| Njn | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |||||
| @Njn | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | |||||
| Numbers for Last 5 Games | 22.8 | 14-31 | 5-16 | 5-5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 7.6 | ||
Green has Two Days to Prepare for Phoenix
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | NEW JERSEY | |
| Points | 105 | 85 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 36-69 (.522) | 30-74 (.405) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 10-24 (.417) | 6-17 (.353) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 23-25 (.920) | 19-28 (.679) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 5-37 | 10-36 |
| Assists | 28 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 14 |
| Steals | 6 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 1 |
| Fast Break Points | 18 | 8 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 22 (0/0) | 18 (2/0) |
| Largest Lead | 30 | 0 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON | NEW JERSEY | ||
| R. Rondo Points: 8 Reb: 9 Ast: 14 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |  | B. Lopez Points: 28 Reb: 10 Ast: 0 Stl: 0 Blk: 0 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| BOSTON | NEW JERSEY | |
| Points | R. Allen 25 | B. Lopez 28 |
| Rebounds | K. Garnett 10 | B. Lopez 10 |
| Assists | R. Rondo 14 | K. Dooling 8 |
| Steals | R. Rondo 2 | K. Dooling 2 |
| Blocks | B. Scalabrine 1 | D. Harris 1 |
| · Team stats: Boston | New Jersey | ||
| 2008-09 Season | ||
| Boston leads 1-0 | ||
| Wed 1/14 | @BOS 118, NJ 86 | Recap | Box Score |
| » Sat 1/17 | BOS 105, @ NJ 85 | Recap | Box Score |
| Mar 4, 2009 | BOS @ NJ | 7:30 PM ET |
| Apr 8, 2009 | NJ @ BOS | 7:30 PM ET |
Rondo's Near Triple Double Paces Celtics
| Boston Celtics (33-9) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P.Pierce | F | 34:59 | 5-10 | 2-5 | 1-1 | +23 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| K.Garnett | F | 27:40 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 2-2 | +23 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| B.Scalabrine | C | 29:13 | 4-8 | 0-3 | 3-3 | +22 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| R.Allen | G | 30:14 | 8-12 | 3-7 | 6-6 | +22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| R.Rondo | G | 27:38 | 3-6 | 1-1 | 1-2 | +24 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| L.Powe | 19:19 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 6-6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | |
| G.Davis | 14:21 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| E.House | 20:38 | 5-8 | 3-5 | 0-1 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |
| G.Pruitt | 18:25 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-0 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| B.Walker | 12:06 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 4-4 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| P.O'Bryant | 05:27 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| S.Cassell | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 36-69 | 10-24 | 23-25 | 5 | 32 | 37 | 28 | 23 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 105 | ||
| 52.2% | 41.7% | 92.0% | Team Rebs: 6 | Total TO: 19 | ||||||||||||
| New Jersey Nets (19-22) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| B.Simmons | F | 22:59 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | -5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R.Anderson | F | 29:34 | 1-6 | 1-3 | 4-4 | -29 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| B.Lopez | C | 41:06 | 12-17 | 0-0 | 4-5 | -18 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| V.Carter | G | 14:00 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -28 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| D.Harris | G | 17:04 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 3-3 | -29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| J.Hayes | 30:19 | 5-11 | 3-6 | 2-2 | +10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
| E.Najera | 18:42 | 3-4 | 1-1 | 0-4 | +7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| K.Dooling | 32:25 | 4-12 | 1-4 | 0-2 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| T.Hassell | 16:55 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 4-4 | -7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| J.Boone | 04:12 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| C.Douglas-Roberts | 12:44 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 1-2 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| M.Ager | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 30-74 | 6-17 | 19-28 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 17 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 85 | ||
| 40.5% | 35.3% | 67.9% | Team Rebs: 9 | Total TO: 16 | ||||||||||||
First Half KO
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Ray Allen, SG | 18 | 7-10 | 2-5 | 4-4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +31 | 20 | |||
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 17 | 3-4 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +32 | 8 | |||
| Paul Pierce, SF | 20 | 3-6 | 2-3 | 1-1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +31 | 9 | |||
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 16 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +29 | 10 | |||
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 16 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 3-3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +29 | 7 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| J.R. Giddens, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Leon Powe, PF | 7 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 | |||
| Tony Allen, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Sam Cassell, PG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Bill Walker, SG | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 0 | |||
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 6 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||
| Eddie House, SG | 6 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |||
| Kendrick Perkins, C | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Glen Davis, PF | 5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 0 | |||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 25-39 | 7-13 | 11-13 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 68 | ||||||
| 64.1% | 53.8% | 84.6% | Team TO (pts off): 9 (6) | |||||||||||||
| +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||||
| NEW JERSEY NETS | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Devin Harris, PG | 16 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -27 | 7 | |||
| Vince Carter, SG | 12 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -24 | 5 | |||
| Bobby Simmons, SF | 9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -14 | 0 | |||
| Ryan Anderson, PF | 15 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -29 | 3 | |||
| Brook Lopez, C | 19 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -23 | 9 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Maurice Ager, SF | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Josh Boone, C | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 0 | |||
| Jarvis Hayes, SF | 8 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 | |||
| Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Eduardo Najera, PF | 8 | 2-3 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 5 | |||
| Stromile Swift, PF | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Trenton Hassell, SF | 9 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 4 | |||
| Yi Jianlian, PF | Has not entered game | |||||||||||||||
| Keyon Dooling, PG | 11 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 2 | |||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 14-35 | 2-4 | 9-12 | 4 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 39 | ||||||
| 40.0% | 50.0% | 75.0% | Team TO (pts off): 8 (10) | |||||||||||||
Antoine is Center of Attention
Antoine Walker's Rookie Campaign
2/1/97
M.L. Carr knew he'd be filling his center position "by committee" going into the season. The problem is that his committee --Dino Radja, Pervis Ellison, Frank Brickowski and Alton Lister -- is now a committee of one--Antoine Walker, after Lister missed another game hamstring problems. Radja (knee surgery) is out for the season, Ellison (toe) won't be back any time soon, and Brickowski (shoulder surgery) will be sidelined at least another month.
Despite going up against bigger and more experienced centers, the rookie has recently chipped in with 28- and 27-point performances, respectively, against Rony Seikaly and Patrick Ewing. Marty Conlon has seen some time in the pivot, but Conlon was doubtful for last night's game at the Fleet Center against Portland because of an ankle sprain. Brett Szabo, who has signed on for the remainder of the season, will also get some minutes.
Walker, Conlon, and Szabo were hardly in Carr's preseason plans at center. Second-round draft pick Steve Hamer was, but preseason knee surgery has kept him out. Hamer, who resumed practicing New Year's Day, could make his debut soon -- and Carr said he'll get some quick on-the-job training.
"We thought we had that center position covered and covered well," said Carr after yesterday morning's light shootaround at Brandeis. "But we've been forced to pare down to the point where we have a 6-9 center, a rookie, to run that position. It's not something we want to keep Antoine doing because he's going to get worn down. But by virtue of him playing there, he is learning another area, and it can only help him long term.
"Hey, he's played all five positions this year, so this morning I asked him if he could help me and play them all at one time," laughed Carr, who added that Walker's extra minutes -- in the pivot and everywhere else -- have put his development "ahead of schedule. We were bringing him along pretty slowly earlier this year, and I know it was frustrating for him.
"I said eventually he'd get his time, and that time came ahead of what I planned to do. And Antoine's responded very well. The other night in New York against Patrick, he had 27 points and 16 rebounds. The one thing that Antoine's doing that all the great ones do is he's really starting to rebound. If he does that, well, that's what guys like Larry (Bird) and (Charles) Barkley did that set them apart."
2/1/97
M.L. Carr knew he'd be filling his center position "by committee" going into the season. The problem is that his committee --Dino Radja, Pervis Ellison, Frank Brickowski and Alton Lister -- is now a committee of one--Antoine Walker, after Lister missed another game hamstring problems. Radja (knee surgery) is out for the season, Ellison (toe) won't be back any time soon, and Brickowski (shoulder surgery) will be sidelined at least another month.
Despite going up against bigger and more experienced centers, the rookie has recently chipped in with 28- and 27-point performances, respectively, against Rony Seikaly and Patrick Ewing. Marty Conlon has seen some time in the pivot, but Conlon was doubtful for last night's game at the Fleet Center against Portland because of an ankle sprain. Brett Szabo, who has signed on for the remainder of the season, will also get some minutes.
Walker, Conlon, and Szabo were hardly in Carr's preseason plans at center. Second-round draft pick Steve Hamer was, but preseason knee surgery has kept him out. Hamer, who resumed practicing New Year's Day, could make his debut soon -- and Carr said he'll get some quick on-the-job training.
"We thought we had that center position covered and covered well," said Carr after yesterday morning's light shootaround at Brandeis. "But we've been forced to pare down to the point where we have a 6-9 center, a rookie, to run that position. It's not something we want to keep Antoine doing because he's going to get worn down. But by virtue of him playing there, he is learning another area, and it can only help him long term.
"Hey, he's played all five positions this year, so this morning I asked him if he could help me and play them all at one time," laughed Carr, who added that Walker's extra minutes -- in the pivot and everywhere else -- have put his development "ahead of schedule. We were bringing him along pretty slowly earlier this year, and I know it was frustrating for him.
"I said eventually he'd get his time, and that time came ahead of what I planned to do. And Antoine's responded very well. The other night in New York against Patrick, he had 27 points and 16 rebounds. The one thing that Antoine's doing that all the great ones do is he's really starting to rebound. If he does that, well, that's what guys like Larry (Bird) and (Charles) Barkley did that set them apart."
Laker Fans are Good for Something
I have this habit of always identifying the first year I became a fan when someone asks me about the Celtics. Inquiries from strangers usually occur because of what I'm wearing.
"Nice shirt," someone I don't know says to me. "You a big Celtics fan?
"Yup, since '74. " I say.
Not quite sure why I do this. But I have a couple of theories. First, no one used to ask me about the Celtics, and now everyone does. I want to make sure that everyone knows I'm not a bandwagon jumper. Second, the year you first became a Celtics' fan is an article of faith. It's like the year you were born. Thirty-five years is a long time to be a member of one family. Besides your blood relatives, try to think of another group you've belonged to for 35 years.
The other day I was playing hoops with my Lakers' friend, when another player observed, "the Celtics finally made it back to the top." Yes, I said, I've been a fan since '74 and it was a long wait between titles.
My Lakers friend took me aside and said, "you know, Lex, when you've been a fan of something since before age ten, you've been a fan you're whole life. Just tell people you're a lifelong Celtics' fan. That should be good enough. If they want to question the depth of your loyalties, screw 'em."
Good advice. But the memories from 1974 remain vivid and powerful. So I may just keep telling people the year I joined the family anyway. Cowens over Kareem in a series where the Bucks were favored should be a cherished memory for all of Celticdom. Somehow, though, Banner number 12 never gets its due.
"Nice shirt," someone I don't know says to me. "You a big Celtics fan?
"Yup, since '74. " I say.
Not quite sure why I do this. But I have a couple of theories. First, no one used to ask me about the Celtics, and now everyone does. I want to make sure that everyone knows I'm not a bandwagon jumper. Second, the year you first became a Celtics' fan is an article of faith. It's like the year you were born. Thirty-five years is a long time to be a member of one family. Besides your blood relatives, try to think of another group you've belonged to for 35 years.
The other day I was playing hoops with my Lakers' friend, when another player observed, "the Celtics finally made it back to the top." Yes, I said, I've been a fan since '74 and it was a long wait between titles.
My Lakers friend took me aside and said, "you know, Lex, when you've been a fan of something since before age ten, you've been a fan you're whole life. Just tell people you're a lifelong Celtics' fan. That should be good enough. If they want to question the depth of your loyalties, screw 'em."
Good advice. But the memories from 1974 remain vivid and powerful. So I may just keep telling people the year I joined the family anyway. Cowens over Kareem in a series where the Bucks were favored should be a cherished memory for all of Celticdom. Somehow, though, Banner number 12 never gets its due.
Wedman on Walton
"He's always getting us together," said Scott Wedman. "When Kevin (McHale) was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, I had a message on my machine that said, 'Scott, this is Bill Walton, your former teammate. Your former teammate, Kevin McHale, is going into the Hall of Fame on this date and this time, and I expect you to be there.'"
Interesting Stretch of Games
January
Sat 17 @ New Jersey 1:00pm
Mon 19 Phoenix 8:00pm
Wed 21 @ Miami 7:30pm
Thu 22 @ Orlando 8:00pm
Sun 25 Dallas 1:00pm
Wed 28 Sacramento 7:30pm
Fri 30 @ Detroit 7:00pm
February
Sun 01 vs Minnesota 12:00pm
Tue 03 @ Philadelphia 7:00pm
Thu 05 vs LA Lakers 8:00pm
Do We Cheer for Scalabrine because He’s White?
Let me preface my remarks by saying, as a human being, I’m proud to be a Celtics fan and I’m proud of Red Auerbach. Auerbach broke the NBA’s color-barrier on more fronts than I can count. Readers of this blog will remember my zealous support for our president-elect last fall. Two of my three favorite Celtics of all-time are African-American.
So maybe it’s “White Man’s Guilt” that leads me to pose this question.
Whatever the muse, I do wonder why Brian Scalabrine has a cult-like following among Celtics fans. At home games (and even some road games), fans chant his name, and, let’s be honest, 95% of these fans are white. Even Celtics fans that don’t chant his name get excited when Veal makes any contribution whatsoever, far more than we did for Sam Vincent, Derek Smith, Acie Earl, or Marcus Webb.
Is this just because the fans are white and they are rooting for a white guy?
I’m gonna say no. Race is not the reason we cheer for Brian Scalabrine. Sure, race is the reason some fans cheer for him, but the percentage of fans that do so on that basis are a minority (statistically, that is), perhaps even a small minority.
What proof do I have?
I chose the above black underachievers for a reason. I did actively root for Sam Vincent, Derek Smith, Acie Earl, and Marcus Webb to make big contributions during their time with Boston. When Derek Smith looked like he might make be the difference-maker off the bench the Celtics needed, I was ecstatic. When Marcus Webb looked like a brute force in the post, I had him penciled in for the Hall of Fame.
Celtics fans are smart. We root for the bench players to contribute because without a bench, you ain’t gonna go very far. So any signs of bench productivity, no matter how rare or how small, are celebrated.
Still, there is something more to the Scalabrine phenomenon than rooting for an underachieving bench player. Scalabrine is not a well-conditioned athlete. In fact, you might say he is poorly conditioned. Vanilla Thunder definitely has some skill, but Celtics fans are left to wonder how much better he might be were he committed to an aerobic and weight-lifting regimen.
Scalabrine’s witty, and his target of choice is usually himself. The guy is overpaid, but it’s not his fault. He’s the ultimate team player. After the Celtics acquired PJ Brown last year, Scalabrine took a seat at the end of the bench and never said anything about it other than “Go Celtics.” Yet when called upon, he steps up, and, for his skill set, he steps up big. The examples are plentiful, but stepping in for an injured KG last year and an injured Perk this year are two good examples.
So is race a total non-factor?
No. That would be going too far. In a sport dominated by world-class African-American athletes, white fans are probably drawn to Scalabrine like they would be drawn to him if he lived in the college dorm room down the hall. He seems like a great guy to shoot the breeze with over a beer. You probably knew a guy like him in college—permanently attached to a couch with a bag of chips in one hand and a can of Coors in the other, with a largely empty box of pizza from the night before sitting on the table in front of him.
Most of us probably rooted for Joe Dorm Room. We rooted for him to get off his duff and do something. The fact that Joe Dorm Room now plays basketball for the World Champion Celtics gives fans the opportunity to root for that guy all over again.
So race may play a factor in the Scalabrine phenomenon, but it is a small and benign factor as far as I can see.
So maybe it’s “White Man’s Guilt” that leads me to pose this question.
Whatever the muse, I do wonder why Brian Scalabrine has a cult-like following among Celtics fans. At home games (and even some road games), fans chant his name, and, let’s be honest, 95% of these fans are white. Even Celtics fans that don’t chant his name get excited when Veal makes any contribution whatsoever, far more than we did for Sam Vincent, Derek Smith, Acie Earl, or Marcus Webb.
Is this just because the fans are white and they are rooting for a white guy?
I’m gonna say no. Race is not the reason we cheer for Brian Scalabrine. Sure, race is the reason some fans cheer for him, but the percentage of fans that do so on that basis are a minority (statistically, that is), perhaps even a small minority.
What proof do I have?
I chose the above black underachievers for a reason. I did actively root for Sam Vincent, Derek Smith, Acie Earl, and Marcus Webb to make big contributions during their time with Boston. When Derek Smith looked like he might make be the difference-maker off the bench the Celtics needed, I was ecstatic. When Marcus Webb looked like a brute force in the post, I had him penciled in for the Hall of Fame.
Celtics fans are smart. We root for the bench players to contribute because without a bench, you ain’t gonna go very far. So any signs of bench productivity, no matter how rare or how small, are celebrated.
Still, there is something more to the Scalabrine phenomenon than rooting for an underachieving bench player. Scalabrine is not a well-conditioned athlete. In fact, you might say he is poorly conditioned. Vanilla Thunder definitely has some skill, but Celtics fans are left to wonder how much better he might be were he committed to an aerobic and weight-lifting regimen.
Scalabrine’s witty, and his target of choice is usually himself. The guy is overpaid, but it’s not his fault. He’s the ultimate team player. After the Celtics acquired PJ Brown last year, Scalabrine took a seat at the end of the bench and never said anything about it other than “Go Celtics.” Yet when called upon, he steps up, and, for his skill set, he steps up big. The examples are plentiful, but stepping in for an injured KG last year and an injured Perk this year are two good examples.
So is race a total non-factor?
No. That would be going too far. In a sport dominated by world-class African-American athletes, white fans are probably drawn to Scalabrine like they would be drawn to him if he lived in the college dorm room down the hall. He seems like a great guy to shoot the breeze with over a beer. You probably knew a guy like him in college—permanently attached to a couch with a bag of chips in one hand and a can of Coors in the other, with a largely empty box of pizza from the night before sitting on the table in front of him.
Most of us probably rooted for Joe Dorm Room. We rooted for him to get off his duff and do something. The fact that Joe Dorm Room now plays basketball for the World Champion Celtics gives fans the opportunity to root for that guy all over again.
So race may play a factor in the Scalabrine phenomenon, but it is a small and benign factor as far as I can see.
Odd How the Mind Works
As I drive to work each day I pass a speed limit sign just before I pull into the parking lot.
20 MPH.
For the most part, I associate all numbers below 50 with Celtics' players. When I take locker #4 at the health club, I think of Chauncey. Locker #44 Westphal. Locker #3? Babe Ruth. Just kidding.
But when I pass the speed limit sign, I don't think of Ray Allen. I don't even think of Brian Shaw.
Nope.
I think of Sherman Douglas.
Odd how the mind works. Strike that. Odd how my mind works.
20 MPH.
For the most part, I associate all numbers below 50 with Celtics' players. When I take locker #4 at the health club, I think of Chauncey. Locker #44 Westphal. Locker #3? Babe Ruth. Just kidding.
But when I pass the speed limit sign, I don't think of Ray Allen. I don't even think of Brian Shaw.
Nope.
I think of Sherman Douglas.
Odd how the mind works. Strike that. Odd how my mind works.
Boston in a Blowout
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| NEW JERSEY | BOSTON | |
| Points | 86 | 118 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 26-67 (.388) | 44-78 (.564) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 5-10 (.500) | 12-22 (.545) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 29-37 (.784) | 18-22 (.818) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 11-32 | 10-45 |
| Assists | 14 | 28 |
| Turnovers | 20 | 17 |
| Steals | 7 | 13 |
| Blocks | 6 | 4 |
| Fast Break Points | 5 | 19 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 19 (0/0) | 28 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead | 2 | 33 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW JERSEY | BOSTON | ||
| B. Lopez Points: 13 Reb: 8 Ast: 2 Stl: 1 Blk: 5 | | K. Garnett Points: 20 Reb: 9 Ast: 3 Stl: 1 Blk: 1 |
Bill Walker Makes an Appearance
| New Jersey Nets (19-20) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| B.Simmons | F | 23:32 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | -9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| R.Anderson | F | 26:05 | 6-8 | 1-1 | 0-1 | -7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| B.Lopez | C | 31:23 | 4-14 | 0-0 | 5-6 | -11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| V.Carter | G | 26:06 | 1-10 | 0-2 | 2-2 | -24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| D.Harris | G | 27:08 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 7-9 | -16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| J.Boone | 13:44 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 3-6 | -16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| J.Hayes | 21:50 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 0-0 | -16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| E.Najera | 16:27 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| K.Dooling | 23:02 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 7-8 | -23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |
| C.Douglas-Roberts | 16:04 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 4-4 | -10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| T.Hassell | 09:11 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1-1 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| M.Ager | 05:28 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 26-67 | 5-10 | 29-37 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 86 | ||
| 38.8% | 50.0% | 78.4% | Team Rebs: 4 | Total TO: 20 | ||||||||||||
| Boston Celtics (32-9) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P.Pierce | F | 32:00 | 7-14 | 5-8 | 3-4 | +26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| K.Garnett | F | 24:03 | 8-11 | 0-0 | 4-4 | +11 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| B.Scalabrine | C | 27:27 | 3-8 | 1-3 | 2-2 | +16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| R.Allen | G | 28:45 | 5-8 | 2-3 | 0-0 | +22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| R.Rondo | G | 30:02 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 1-2 | +21 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| G.Pruitt | 19:06 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 4-4 | +13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| L.Powe | 23:22 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 3-4 | +16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| G.Davis | 20:59 | 5-6 | 1-1 | 1-1 | +16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | |
| E.House | 16:48 | 4-7 | 2-5 | 0-0 | +10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| B.Walker | 12:00 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| P.O'Bryant | 05:28 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | +5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| S.Cassell | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 44-78 | 12-22 | 18-22 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 28 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 118 | ||
| 56.4% | 54.5% | 81.8% | Team Rebs: 6 | Total TO: 17 | ||||||||||||
Mark Who? KC Jones Ceases to Use Acres in the Playoffs
The Mark Acres Chronicles
5/13/88
The cries about use, or non-use, of the bench are being heard again, so Larry Bird was asked how long heavy reliance on the starters will continue. "It's gonna last until I retire," he declared. "I know that. It's happened the last nine years, and it's not a big problem. There's a lot of rest and a lot of times in between games."
Most teams traditionally trim the playing time of their irregulars when the playoffs arrive, although it can be argued that few prune the bush as much as Boston. In the last four playoff games, the bench minutes have gone from 55 to 37 to 30 to 25.
Robert Parish played a season-high 45 minutes. Bird went 47. The other numbers: Kevin McHale 41, Danny Ainge 43 and Dennis Johnson 39. Fred Roberts and Dirk Minniefield have fallen off the earth. The former has logged two straight DNPs, while the latter got one of those Friday (his first as a Celtic) and two minutes Wednesday. Jim Paxson has played only 27 minutes in the last two games, while Mark Acres has played 22.
It's perfectly clear that K.C. Jones isn't fooling around with "maybes." He's sticking with the known commodities until they drop. For 10 playoff games, Paxson averaged 4.9 points, Acres 2.4 and Minniefield 1.8. In the first three games between the Celtics and the Hawks, Atlanta's bench outscored Boston's, 114-28.
5/13/88
The cries about use, or non-use, of the bench are being heard again, so Larry Bird was asked how long heavy reliance on the starters will continue. "It's gonna last until I retire," he declared. "I know that. It's happened the last nine years, and it's not a big problem. There's a lot of rest and a lot of times in between games."
Most teams traditionally trim the playing time of their irregulars when the playoffs arrive, although it can be argued that few prune the bush as much as Boston. In the last four playoff games, the bench minutes have gone from 55 to 37 to 30 to 25.
Robert Parish played a season-high 45 minutes. Bird went 47. The other numbers: Kevin McHale 41, Danny Ainge 43 and Dennis Johnson 39. Fred Roberts and Dirk Minniefield have fallen off the earth. The former has logged two straight DNPs, while the latter got one of those Friday (his first as a Celtic) and two minutes Wednesday. Jim Paxson has played only 27 minutes in the last two games, while Mark Acres has played 22.
It's perfectly clear that K.C. Jones isn't fooling around with "maybes." He's sticking with the known commodities until they drop. For 10 playoff games, Paxson averaged 4.9 points, Acres 2.4 and Minniefield 1.8. In the first three games between the Celtics and the Hawks, Atlanta's bench outscored Boston's, 114-28.
What Was Bill Walton Doing in 1984?
November, 1984
BIRD AND WALTON
Two hours before Wednesday night's game with the Los Angeles Clippers, before the Boston Garden's bright lights had been turned on, two of the greatest players in history were alone on the parquet floor, shooting and talking. The place was empty, but it was a sight for a sellout: Bird and Bill Walton rehearsing together.
WALTON INJURED
Bullets 93, Clippers 88: Gus Williams scored six points and Jeff Ruland added four during the final three minutes of the game as host Washington recovered after blowing an 18-point lead and defeated Los Angeles. Bill Walton returned to the Los Angeles lineup after missing two games with tendinitis of the ankle. He scored only four points in a limited appearance.
WALTON IN FOUL TROUBLE
Life without Darryl Dawkins took a turn for the better for the Nets tonight. They snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the struggling Los Angeles Clippers, 99-90, before 7,322 fans at the Sports Arena. Bill Walton was in foul trouble in the half and played only nine minutes. He did not score or get an assist.
Part of this blog's efforts to see what the Big Red, Dead-Head was doing in the year before we heisted him from da Clipjoint. Earlier posts in this series.
BIRD AND WALTON
Two hours before Wednesday night's game with the Los Angeles Clippers, before the Boston Garden's bright lights had been turned on, two of the greatest players in history were alone on the parquet floor, shooting and talking. The place was empty, but it was a sight for a sellout: Bird and Bill Walton rehearsing together.
WALTON INJURED
Bullets 93, Clippers 88: Gus Williams scored six points and Jeff Ruland added four during the final three minutes of the game as host Washington recovered after blowing an 18-point lead and defeated Los Angeles. Bill Walton returned to the Los Angeles lineup after missing two games with tendinitis of the ankle. He scored only four points in a limited appearance.
WALTON IN FOUL TROUBLE
Life without Darryl Dawkins took a turn for the better for the Nets tonight. They snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the struggling Los Angeles Clippers, 99-90, before 7,322 fans at the Sports Arena. Bill Walton was in foul trouble in the half and played only nine minutes. He did not score or get an assist.
Part of this blog's efforts to see what the Big Red, Dead-Head was doing in the year before we heisted him from da Clipjoint. Earlier posts in this series.
Steal By Bird, Free Throws Notch Victory for C's
Green Improves to 23-7
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Larry Bird stole an in-bound pass with 36 seconds left and converted two free throws 18 seconds later to help the Boston Celtics edge the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, 106-103.
Boston, surrendering an average of 119 points the last five games, fell behind by as many as nine points in the second period before cutting the lead to five at intermission. The 6-23 Cavaliers, who owned the worst record in the NBA at game time, then built up a nine-point lead (76-67), before the Celtics woke up.
Read more.
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Larry Bird stole an in-bound pass with 36 seconds left and converted two free throws 18 seconds later to help the Boston Celtics edge the Cleveland Cavaliers last night, 106-103.
Boston, surrendering an average of 119 points the last five games, fell behind by as many as nine points in the second period before cutting the lead to five at intermission. The 6-23 Cavaliers, who owned the worst record in the NBA at game time, then built up a nine-point lead (76-67), before the Celtics woke up.
Read more.
McHale Fuels Celtics Victory
Green Improves to 8-2
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/21/1990
The Boston lead was 18, there was less than 2 minutes left and all the big names were still on the floor. The way things were going, you half expected Akeem Olajuwon to come up with a 19-point play.
Read more.
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/21/1990
The Boston lead was 18, there was less than 2 minutes left and all the big names were still on the floor. The way things were going, you half expected Akeem Olajuwon to come up with a 19-point play.
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Adande on DJ
J.A. Adande
Dennis Johnson never averaged 20 points in any of his seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Celtics. It's not the numbers that are relevant, it's the memories: Larry Bird never hesitated to give Johnson the ball in crunch time, which is really all you need to know about him.
Johnson was great -- and a major deterrent to the Lakers. His defense forced Magic Johnson into back-to-back turnovers and killed the Lakers' last hopes in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals. His jump shot won Game 4 of the 1985 Finals and forced the Lakers to head back to Boston Garden to exorcise the demons from their decades of losing to the Celtics.
The height of athletic achievement is to be at your best when it matters most. That applied to Dennis Johnson, a three-time champion, the most valuable player of the 1979 NBA Finals, a man whose career playoff averages exceeded his regular-season numbers.
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Rice Induction Should Give DJ Faithful Hope
Rice's vote total was embarrassingly low (29.8 percent) in his first year of eligibility, but momentum grew, and he inched agonizingly close to Cooperstown. Yesterday, in his 15th and final year on the writers' ballot, Jim Ed Rice was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame by a margin of eight votes. He was named on 412 of 539 ballots, pushing him to 76.4 percent, a shade over the required three-quarters.
Now it's time for the NBA Hall of Fame to do its job.
Exactly 27 days after the Sixers won the 1982-83 championship, Boston acquired Dennis Johnson in a trade. The next year the Celtics won the NBA championship. The difference?
DJ
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Now it's time for the NBA Hall of Fame to do its job.
Exactly 27 days after the Sixers won the 1982-83 championship, Boston acquired Dennis Johnson in a trade. The next year the Celtics won the NBA championship. The difference?
DJ
Read more.
Celtics Set Team Record with 22 Points in OT
1 2 3 4 OT Final38 points scored in five minutes by both teams must be close to a record, too.
TOR (16-23) 23 31 24 15 16 109
BOS (31-9) 19 26 29 19 22 115
A Win is a Win
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| TORONTO | BOSTON | |
| Points | 109 | 115 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 39-82 (.476) | 42-88 (.477) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 9-22 (.409) | 10-24 (.417) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 22-26 (.846) | 21-26 (.808) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 6-37 | 13-46 |
| Assists | 20 | 26 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 7 |
| Blocks | 2 | 5 |
| Fast Break Points | 7 | 6 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 23 (1/0) | 23 (0/0) |
| Largest Lead | 12 | 8 |
Pierce Plays Best When He Might Not Play at All
| TORONTO RAPTORS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Jamario Moon, SF | 23 | 3-7 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Chris Bosh, PF | 45 | 6-11 | 0-0 | 6-7 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | -10 | 18 |
| Andrea Bargnani, C | 39 | 9-20 | 2-6 | 3-3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -6 | 23 |
| Anthony Parker, SG | 34 | 4-10 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -7 | 11 |
| Will Solomon, PG | 29 | 4-6 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -9 | 10 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Jason Kapono, SG | 22 | 2-6 | 0-3 | 3-4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +6 | 7 |
| Roko Ukic, PG | 23 | 7-12 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Kris Humphries, PF | 20 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 9 |
| Joey Graham, SF | 29 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 5-6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -7 | 7 |
| Jake Voskuhl, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Jose Calderon, PG | DNP STRAINED RIGHT HAMSTRING | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 39-82 | 9-22 | 22-26 | 6 | 31 | 37 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 109 | |||
| 47.6% | 40.9% | 84.6% | Team TO (pts off): 11 (9) | |||||||||||
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 49 | 13-26 | 3-8 | 10-11 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +10 | 39 |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 40 | 7-15 | 0-0 | 6-6 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +6 | 20 |
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 28 | 4-9 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 11 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 45 | 5-10 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 12 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 40 | 4-9 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 9 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Glen Davis, PF | 13 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Eddie House, SG | 13 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
| Leon Powe, PF | 26 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +6 | 10 |
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 10 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Cassell, PG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| Bill Walker, SG | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 42-88 | 10-24 | 21-26 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 115 | |||
| 47.7% | 41.7% | 80.8% | Team TO (pts off): 12 (6) | |||||||||||
Ok, It's Official. Celtics Fans Can Chill Until March
Florida Celts Fan posted one of the better articles I've read during the KG Era. It pretty much puts everything in perspective. You need to read it.
It cements our understanding of this team.
The team remains supremely close and supremely confident. The Celtics' schedule between Christmas and the All-Star break, the article reiterates, is tough and simply something for the players to get through. It also confirms that Sam Cassell remains an integral part of this team.
One day Cassell will take off his warm-ups and play this year.
When he does, you can be certain the Celtics' mindset will have shifted from "getting through the season" to "preparing for the playoffs." You go to war with the proven veterans, and Cassell will be there when it counts.
Until then, I can live with the stumbling and bumbling we've seen of late, even if we don't make any trades. It's sort of like being a Red Sox fan after the Yankees just added enough salary to total almost a billion. You dig in and you support your team. You circle the wagons.
Losing might just make this team stronger.
It cements our understanding of this team.
The team remains supremely close and supremely confident. The Celtics' schedule between Christmas and the All-Star break, the article reiterates, is tough and simply something for the players to get through. It also confirms that Sam Cassell remains an integral part of this team.
One day Cassell will take off his warm-ups and play this year.
When he does, you can be certain the Celtics' mindset will have shifted from "getting through the season" to "preparing for the playoffs." You go to war with the proven veterans, and Cassell will be there when it counts.
Until then, I can live with the stumbling and bumbling we've seen of late, even if we don't make any trades. It's sort of like being a Red Sox fan after the Yankees just added enough salary to total almost a billion. You dig in and you support your team. You circle the wagons.
Losing might just make this team stronger.
C's Close Out December with Easy Win
Green Improves to 22-7
1981-82 Boston Celtics
It would have been a strange sight, seeing all those tall guys hitching along the interstate. Can there be any doubt that had Boston lost this game Bill Fitch would have cashed in the return portion of their plane tickets back to Boston?
Not to worry. The Celtics came to play, and the Jazz cooperated by being, well, the Jazz. Result: a simple 121-110 dispatch before a capacity crowd of 12,493 at the Salt Palace last night, a victory which meant, among other things, that the Celtics have still not lost two games in succession this season.
Read more.
1981-82 Boston Celtics
It would have been a strange sight, seeing all those tall guys hitching along the interstate. Can there be any doubt that had Boston lost this game Bill Fitch would have cashed in the return portion of their plane tickets back to Boston?
Not to worry. The Celtics came to play, and the Jazz cooperated by being, well, the Jazz. Result: a simple 121-110 dispatch before a capacity crowd of 12,493 at the Salt Palace last night, a victory which meant, among other things, that the Celtics have still not lost two games in succession this season.
Read more.
Tony Allen is only an "Average Defender"
Asked about defensive issues with Allen out, coach Doc Rivers said, “We just miss another guard, really. Honestly, Tony has been an average defender for us. I’ve always said he should be a great defender; he just hasn’t been yet, and that’s something he has to improve on. But we’re just down a guard.
Some guys thrive in a starting role.
Some guys thrive coming off the bench in a rotational role.
Other guys do best as an alternate to the rotational guys. This is Tony Allen. He does best when Doc can pick the match-ups, rather than be a guy Doc counts on every night.
Some guys thrive in a starting role.
Some guys thrive coming off the bench in a rotational role.
Other guys do best as an alternate to the rotational guys. This is Tony Allen. He does best when Doc can pick the match-ups, rather than be a guy Doc counts on every night.
Pruitt and Cassell
The recent rumors of Danny packaging Gabe Pruitt with various other Celtics in an effort to bring in some veteran help for the bench tells me a couple of things.
First, Gabe Pruitt won't be the back-up point guard come April.
Second, Sam Cassell may start to see some playing time. Probably after the trade deadline, but perhaps before, depending on the circumstances. Even if the green were to somehow land Star Berry, I wouldn't rule out situations where the Celtics play both Cassell and Marbury together.
Experience is the name of the game once the playoffs start.
First, Gabe Pruitt won't be the back-up point guard come April.
Second, Sam Cassell may start to see some playing time. Probably after the trade deadline, but perhaps before, depending on the circumstances. Even if the green were to somehow land Star Berry, I wouldn't rule out situations where the Celtics play both Cassell and Marbury together.
Experience is the name of the game once the playoffs start.
Older, Wiser Bird Likes the Celtics Chances This Year
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/21/1990
The conversation began as a discussion on the mental edge, that nebulous term often used to describe what separates the elite athlete from the rest.
Larry Bird is such an athlete. He got drafted, pulled on a Celtic jersey with the No. 33 and never looked back. He won three world championships, three MVP trophies. He has been to the All-Star Game 10 times and was the NBA 3-point king two of the three times he participated.
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Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/21/1990
The conversation began as a discussion on the mental edge, that nebulous term often used to describe what separates the elite athlete from the rest.
Larry Bird is such an athlete. He got drafted, pulled on a Celtic jersey with the No. 33 and never looked back. He won three world championships, three MVP trophies. He has been to the All-Star Game 10 times and was the NBA 3-point king two of the three times he participated.
Read more
Did You Ever Think You'd Get This Excited about a Win Over Toronto?
Where's Harry Caray when you need him?
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | TORONTO | |
| Points | 94 | 88 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 32-78 (.410) | 28-74 (.378) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 10-20 (.500) | 6-17 (.353) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 20-26 (.769) | 26-31 (.839) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 10-43 | 11-44 |
| Assists | 22 | 18 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 8 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 10 |
| Fast Break Points | 17 | 6 |
| Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) | 24 (1/0) | 21 (1/0) |
| Largest Lead | 20 | 6 |
| Top Performers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON | TORONTO | ||
| R. Allen Points: 36 Reb: 3 Ast: 2 Stl: 2 Blk: 0 |  | J. Moon Points: 15 Reb: 7 Ast: 1 Stl: 1 Blk: 3 |
| Game Leaders | ||
| BOSTON | TORONTO | |
| Points | R. Allen 36 | A. Bargnani 17 |
| Rebounds | K. Garnett 11 | C. Bosh 11 |
| Assists | R. Rondo 11 | A. Bargnani 3 |
| Steals | R. Allen 2 | J. Kapono 2 |
| Blocks | P. Pierce 2 | C. Bosh 3 |
| · Team stats: Boston | Toronto | ||
| 2008-09 Season | ||
| Boston leads 3-0 | ||
| Mon 11/10 | @BOS 94, TOR 87 | Recap | Box Score |
| Sun 11/23 | BOS 118, @ TOR 103 | Recap | Box Score |
| » Sun 1/11 | BOS 94, @ TOR 88 | Recap | Box Score |
| Jan 12, 2009 | TOR @ BOS | 7:30 PM ET |
I Think We Scored More Points than the Other Team
But I can't be certain, cuz this doesn't seem to happen very often any more.
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Ray Allen, SG | 43 | 11-14 | 8-10 | 6-6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +11 | 36 | |||
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 37 | 5-12 | 0-1 | 4-5 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +13 | 14 | |||
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 36 | 3-16 | 0-1 | 4-6 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +13 | 10 | |||
| Paul Pierce, SF | 40 | 5-11 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 11 | |||
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | 25 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | +15 | 7 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Tony Allen, SG | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Sam Cassell, PG | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Eddie House, SG | 8 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -8 | 4 | |||
| Gabe Pruitt, PG | 2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 1 | |||
| Leon Powe, PF | 7 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 5 | |||
| Bill Walker, SG | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Patrick O'Bryant, C | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Glen Davis, PF | 30 | 1-12 | 0-0 | 4-6 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | +2 | 6 | |||
| Kendrick Perkins, C | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 32-78 | 10-20 | 20-26 | 10 | 43 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 24 | 94 | ||||||
| 41.0% | 50.0% | 76.9% | Team TO (pts off): 10 (18) | |||||||||||||
| TORONTO RAPTORS | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Anthony Parker, SG | 28 | 2-12 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -12 | 5 | |||
| Jose Calderon, PG | 17 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 4-4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -14 | 6 | |||
| Chris Bosh, PF | 38 | 5-16 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -10 | 15 | |||
| Jamario Moon, SF | 37 | 6-10 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 15 | |||
| Andrea Bargnani, C | 31 | 5-14 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 17 | |||
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS | |||
| Will Solomon, PG | 12 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 | |||
| Jason Kapono, SG | 24 | 5-7 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 12 | |||
| Roko Ukic, PG | 13 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +13 | 4 | |||
| Kris Humphries, PF | 3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 0 | |||
| Joey Graham, SF | 25 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 8-9 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | +6 | 12 | |||
| Nathan Jawai, PF | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Jermaine O'Neal, C | Did not play | |||||||||||||||
| Jake Voskuhl, C | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +3 | 0 | |||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |||||
| 28-74 | 6-17 | 26-31 | 11 | 44 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 21 | 88 | ||||||
| 37.8% | 35.3% | 83.9% | Team TO (pts off): 8 (10) | |||||||||||||
The Hammer
Long ago and far away the Boston Celtics played a home game against Portland. The Celtics went up by 10. ESPN flashed a graphic showing the Celtics' record in games where they led by 10 points or more during the KG Era.
25-0. The Celtics won that game, too.
Thereafter, I droned on and on about how Doc and KG knew how to put down the hammer.
Since then the Celtics have lost at least two games where they've held leads of ten or more points.
Well, today the Green bolted to another 10 point lead, on the road no less.
Can they hold it?
I almost dare not mention it, but the Raptors are shooting 36% at halftime. Against the Celtics? At home? The Celtics don't play defense on the road. Come to think of it, I'm not sure what they do play on the road can really be called "basketball."
In any event, the other stat that jumps out at me is an offensive one. The Celtics are 7-11 from range.
That makes me nervous, because it's a number than can easily go south down the stretch.
25-0. The Celtics won that game, too.
Thereafter, I droned on and on about how Doc and KG knew how to put down the hammer.
Since then the Celtics have lost at least two games where they've held leads of ten or more points.
Well, today the Green bolted to another 10 point lead, on the road no less.
Can they hold it?
I almost dare not mention it, but the Raptors are shooting 36% at halftime. Against the Celtics? At home? The Celtics don't play defense on the road. Come to think of it, I'm not sure what they do play on the road can really be called "basketball."
In any event, the other stat that jumps out at me is an offensive one. The Celtics are 7-11 from range.
That makes me nervous, because it's a number than can easily go south down the stretch.
Celts Lose Despite 20-20 from Bird
Green Falls to 21-7
1981-82 Boston Celtics
The Celtics could choose to alibi this one from now until St. Swithin's Day, but they've got nobody to blame for this "L" but themselves. Teams that shoot 28 for 46 from the foul line deserve no sympathy, even if Larry Bird provided another performance for the ages.
Read more.
1981-82 Boston Celtics
The Celtics could choose to alibi this one from now until St. Swithin's Day, but they've got nobody to blame for this "L" but themselves. Teams that shoot 28 for 46 from the foul line deserve no sympathy, even if Larry Bird provided another performance for the ages.
Read more.
Celtics are Making it Simple
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/20/1990
Some of the best things in basketball are still quite simple.
Celtics need a quick bucket. Larry Bird receives a pass at the wing. Drives his man into a heavily guarded Robert Parish at the high post, and the Chief pivots to the basket at the moment of contact. That leaves two men staring Bird in the face and Parish alone beneath the rim. Bird with the feed. Parish with the slam. Simple.
Maybe next time, Bird will run his man into Parish, pull up and let a jumper fly. Parish pivots to the basket and has good position on the boards. Easy.
They know it's only pick-and-roll, but they like it.
It's easy to see why. The play is textbook basketball, as much a Celtic tradition as the 16 banners in the Garden rafters.
Read more
Remembering the 29-5 Start
11/20/1990
Some of the best things in basketball are still quite simple.
Celtics need a quick bucket. Larry Bird receives a pass at the wing. Drives his man into a heavily guarded Robert Parish at the high post, and the Chief pivots to the basket at the moment of contact. That leaves two men staring Bird in the face and Parish alone beneath the rim. Bird with the feed. Parish with the slam. Simple.
Maybe next time, Bird will run his man into Parish, pull up and let a jumper fly. Parish pivots to the basket and has good position on the boards. Easy.
They know it's only pick-and-roll, but they like it.
It's easy to see why. The play is textbook basketball, as much a Celtic tradition as the 16 banners in the Garden rafters.
Read more
Playmaker Wanted
So Danny has been working the phones. No surprise there. Reports say he wants a shooter off the bench. Eddie House is a shooter off the bench, just not a great one, at least not this year. Gabe Pruitt supposedly is a good shooter, but I think we've seen enough proof to the contrary. Tony Allen, not a great shooter from the outside--period.
Then we have the kids--JR Giddens and Bill Walker. Fresh legs, something to prove, and maybe even a little bit of an attitude. Looking good at Pawtucket.
Is there a reason we're not giving them a look?
What harm can it do?
At this point, the only goal left for the rest of the season is to build a team that can win three or four rounds of the playoffs on the road. Doesn't seem like a job for two rookies.
But, you know, beggars can't be choosers and all that.
And then there is Sam Cassell. It made sense to keep him on the end of the bench when we were 27-2. Does it make sense to keep him there at 2-7?
Let's shake things up.
Then we have the kids--JR Giddens and Bill Walker. Fresh legs, something to prove, and maybe even a little bit of an attitude. Looking good at Pawtucket.
Is there a reason we're not giving them a look?
What harm can it do?
At this point, the only goal left for the rest of the season is to build a team that can win three or four rounds of the playoffs on the road. Doesn't seem like a job for two rookies.
But, you know, beggars can't be choosers and all that.
And then there is Sam Cassell. It made sense to keep him on the end of the bench when we were 27-2. Does it make sense to keep him there at 2-7?
Let's shake things up.
Revising the Win Projections
I started the season predicting 59 wins, but thought it might be necessary for an upward revision after the 27-2 start. I never made that revision, which is a good thing.
Now it's time for a downward revision.
The Celtics have 43 games left, 21 at home and 22 on the road.
16-5 at home and 11-11 on the road would give them 27 more wins for a grand total of 56 regular season wins. Personally, I don't see the green playing .500 ball over the rest of their road games. If we subtract a couple of wins and add a couple of losses, that would give them a total of 25 wins the rest of the way, or a final record of 54-28.
That sounds about right.
Only six more wins than Tim Cowlishaw's outrageous prediction of 48 wins last year. The kind of ball the Celtics are playing right now must be what Cowlishaw had in mind. The question is where would 54 wins put them in the East? My guess is that it would be good enough to play one round of playoffs at home.
If we drew anyone but Detroit in the second round, I'm not sure we get past them.
Now it's time for a downward revision.
The Celtics have 43 games left, 21 at home and 22 on the road.
16-5 at home and 11-11 on the road would give them 27 more wins for a grand total of 56 regular season wins. Personally, I don't see the green playing .500 ball over the rest of their road games. If we subtract a couple of wins and add a couple of losses, that would give them a total of 25 wins the rest of the way, or a final record of 54-28.
That sounds about right.
Only six more wins than Tim Cowlishaw's outrageous prediction of 48 wins last year. The kind of ball the Celtics are playing right now must be what Cowlishaw had in mind. The question is where would 54 wins put them in the East? My guess is that it would be good enough to play one round of playoffs at home.
If we drew anyone but Detroit in the second round, I'm not sure we get past them.
How Low Can They Go?
| January | Opponent | Time | Local TV | Nat TV | Radio |
| Sun 11 | @ Toronto | 12:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Mon 12 | vs Toronto  | 7:30pm | CSNHD |  | WEEI |
| Wed 14 | vs New Jersey | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Sat 17 | @ New Jersey | 1:00pm | CSNHD | WEEI |
We're about to find out. If they split the next four games, it may be lights out, Gracie.
Celtics Fall to Third, at Risk of Starting Playoffs on the Road
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HM | RD | CONF | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STRK | L10 | |||
| Cleveland | 29 | 6 | .829 | - | 101.4 | 89.0 | +12.4 | ||||||||
| Orlando | 29 | 8 | .784 | 1 | 100.9 | 93.2 | +7.8 | ||||||||
| Boston | 29 | 9 | .763 | 1 ½ | 100.1 | 91.6 | +8.5 | ||||||||
| Detroit | 22 | 12 | .647 | 6 ½ | 94.4 | 93.4 | +1.0 | ||||||||
| Atlanta | 22 | 13 | .629 | 7 | 98.0 | 96.0 | +2.0 | ||||||||
No Z, No Problem. Cavs Dump C's
| Boston Celtics (29-9) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P.Pierce | F | 37:49 | 4-15 | 1-5 | 2-2 | -12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| K.Garnett | F | 29:21 | 8-15 | 0-0 | 2-2 | -14 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| K.Perkins | C | 26:14 | 6-7 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| R.Allen | G | 40:22 | 5-12 | 2-6 | 0-0 | -18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| R.Rondo | G | 35:50 | 1-8 | 0-1 | 3-6 | -20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| G.Davis | 16:25 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 2-2 | -10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| E.House | 19:11 | 2-7 | 2-5 | 2-2 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | |
| L.Powe | 12:48 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | -4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |
| G.Pruitt | 11:21 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | +6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| P.O'Bryant | 04:14 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| B.Scalabrine | 06:25 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | +8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| S.Cassell | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 33-80 | 5-19 | 12-17 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 25 | 22 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 83 | ||
| 41.2% | 26.3% | 70.6% | Team Rebs: 11 | Total TO: 16 | ||||||||||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers (29-6) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| L.James | F | 35:49 | 13-25 | 3-7 | 9-9 | +20 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 |
| B.Wallace | F | 29:49 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 5-10 | +14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| A.Varejao | C | 35:06 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 4-7 | +9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| D.West | G | 42:18 | 3-8 | 2-2 | 0-0 | +22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| M.Williams | G | 32:05 | 5-9 | 0-2 | 3-3 | +13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| D.Gibson | 25:46 | 3-4 | 2-3 | 2-2 | +5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | |
| J.Hickson | 19:54 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | -4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| W.Szczerbiak | 14:48 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-0 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| T.Kinsey | 00:47 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| A.Pavlovic | 03:38 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D.Jackson | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 33-65 | 8-16 | 24-33 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 98 | ||
| 50.8% | 50.0% | 72.7% | Team Rebs: 10 | Total TO: 12 | ||||||||||||
Cavs Control from Wire to Wire
| Team Stat Comparison | ||
| BOSTON | CLEVELAND | |
| Points | 83 | 98 |
| FG Made-Attempted | 33-80 (.413) | 33-65 (.508) |
| 3P Made-Attempted | 5-19 (.263) | 8-16 (.500) |
| FT Made-Attempted | 12-17 (.706) | 24-33 (.727) |
| Rebounds (Offensive-Total) | 15-42 | 4-30 |
| Assists | 25 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Steals | 8 | 14 |