3.18.2009
The Messiah Syndrome
He's supposed to bring Steph back to his old self, and make Mikki Moore more effective. He's expected to bolster the interior and return the Celtics' defense to exalted status. Upon his return, the Celtics will snap out of their current funk and begin piling up the wins like days of yore. The sea will part and the skies will calm. Championship 18 will be ours.
Anyone buying?
Anyone buying?
Year of the Purple Heart: The Second Edition
With the injuries piling up, it's hard not to see parallels between this team and the last one that tried to repeat as NBA champions in Boston. The 1987 team fell just two games short of pulling it off, despite losing over 200 games due to injury. A year after going 40-1 at home, somehow that team went 39-2 at the Gahden the next year. The regular season and playoffs were a grind and painful to watch unfold, but they gutted it out for as long as they could.
Celtics Forced to Release Paxson
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
The NBA gave the Celtics a little nudge yesterday and, just like that, Boston's roster decreased by two. Gone were Jim Paxson and Charles Smith. Both were waived, leaving the Celtics with 13 players on the roster, including John Bagley, who is on the injured list.
The moves came at the "suggestion" of the NBA, club officials said. Celtics CEO Dave Gavitt said he thought the league's intervention was prompted by complaints from other teams that Boston was hiding players. Asked to explain the Paxson move, Gavitt said, "The league made us do it. They said if he was still going to be on the suspended list and still being paid, then he ought to be waived."
And Smith, who had been on the injured list with a shoulder injury? "We wanted to protect his rights until he got healthy," he said. Gavitt said the recent decision by the NBA to grant a full roster exception created by Dennis Johnson's departure may have stirred some jealousy around the league. The NBA determined that the Celtics have DJ's full salary ($1.15 million) available should they need it. They would have gotten only 50 percent had DJ retired. And even if Johnson retired today, Boston would still get the full value of the contract. "If you ask me, both moves were triggered by the DJ decision," Gavitt said. "Once that happened, I think some of the other teams reacted. That's just my feeling."
Remembering the 29-5 Start
The NBA gave the Celtics a little nudge yesterday and, just like that, Boston's roster decreased by two. Gone were Jim Paxson and Charles Smith. Both were waived, leaving the Celtics with 13 players on the roster, including John Bagley, who is on the injured list.
The moves came at the "suggestion" of the NBA, club officials said. Celtics CEO Dave Gavitt said he thought the league's intervention was prompted by complaints from other teams that Boston was hiding players. Asked to explain the Paxson move, Gavitt said, "The league made us do it. They said if he was still going to be on the suspended list and still being paid, then he ought to be waived."
And Smith, who had been on the injured list with a shoulder injury? "We wanted to protect his rights until he got healthy," he said. Gavitt said the recent decision by the NBA to grant a full roster exception created by Dennis Johnson's departure may have stirred some jealousy around the league. The NBA determined that the Celtics have DJ's full salary ($1.15 million) available should they need it. They would have gotten only 50 percent had DJ retired. And even if Johnson retired today, Boston would still get the full value of the contract. "If you ask me, both moves were triggered by the DJ decision," Gavitt said. "Once that happened, I think some of the other teams reacted. That's just my feeling."
3.17.2009
Bird Reinvigorated by Fast Start
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
Coach Chris Ford said that Larry Bird's improved physical condition and the emergence of younger players such as Dee Brown, Reggie Lewis, Brian Shaw and Kevin Gamble who have brought "some life and enthusiasm" to the team have added up to an
enjoyable season for No. 33 thus far.
"I think Larry's feeling good about himself and the team," said Ford, "even though his back isn't 100 percent." Shaw engaged in an unusual game of H-O-R-S-E at the end of yesterday's practice with Dave Popson, Michael Smith and Ed Pinckney. The quartet was taking the weirdest shots they could think of. Shaw topped the repertoire when he tried to bounce one through the hoop off the 24-second clock that hung above the backboard -- which prompted assistant coach Don Casey to quip, "If you break it, Brian, it's coming out of your paycheck."
Remembering the 29-5 Start
Coach Chris Ford said that Larry Bird's improved physical condition and the emergence of younger players such as Dee Brown, Reggie Lewis, Brian Shaw and Kevin Gamble who have brought "some life and enthusiasm" to the team have added up to an
enjoyable season for No. 33 thus far.
"I think Larry's feeling good about himself and the team," said Ford, "even though his back isn't 100 percent." Shaw engaged in an unusual game of H-O-R-S-E at the end of yesterday's practice with Dave Popson, Michael Smith and Ed Pinckney. The quartet was taking the weirdest shots they could think of. Shaw topped the repertoire when he tried to bounce one through the hoop off the 24-second clock that hung above the backboard -- which prompted assistant coach Don Casey to quip, "If you break it, Brian, it's coming out of your paycheck."
Arrogance, Confidence, Boredom, or Slippage?
“You know what? My attitude is that wherever we fall, that’s where it’s going to be,” Paul Pierce [stats] said after yesterday’s practice at Moody Bible Institute. “Regardless of how hard the road may look from whatever seed we get, it’s going to be hard anyway to win a back-to-back championship. So whether we’ve got to go on the road the first three rounds or starting with the second round or however we’ve got to do it, we feel confident that when this team is healthy we can get the job done.
“Me, Paul and Rajon (Rondo), the three of us have the ball in our hands the majority of the time right now," Allen said. "I’m not going to say anyone was purposely trying to win the game by themselves, but sometimes it just takes watching film. You know, you fall into ruts, and then you have to have to watch film and see what you’re doing and see how teams are playing you. I think that’s the case.”
“Whatever happens happens,” Rivers said. “We don’t (want to give it away), but that’s why you play the whole season. “If we’re going to win it, we’ve got to play good teams. So I couldn’t care less about the seedings."
I was watching the Celtics-Suns game at the Gahden. The green dominated, and KG didn't play. You could say that is a sure sign of slippage--showing how far our quality of play has fallen from then until now--except for the fact that both Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis did play then but have been unable to play recently. Nor had the Celtics added Mikki Moore or Stephon Marbury to the roster. And it's easier to get up for playing the Suns than it is for playing Milwaukee. And so on.
The point here is that with so many balls in the air, it's getting tougher to diagnose the problem. So the easiest thing to do is just assume that the Celtics can simply flip the switch once KG returns, and, if not then, when the playoffs start.
“Me, Paul and Rajon (Rondo), the three of us have the ball in our hands the majority of the time right now," Allen said. "I’m not going to say anyone was purposely trying to win the game by themselves, but sometimes it just takes watching film. You know, you fall into ruts, and then you have to have to watch film and see what you’re doing and see how teams are playing you. I think that’s the case.”
“Whatever happens happens,” Rivers said. “We don’t (want to give it away), but that’s why you play the whole season. “If we’re going to win it, we’ve got to play good teams. So I couldn’t care less about the seedings."
I was watching the Celtics-Suns game at the Gahden. The green dominated, and KG didn't play. You could say that is a sure sign of slippage--showing how far our quality of play has fallen from then until now--except for the fact that both Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis did play then but have been unable to play recently. Nor had the Celtics added Mikki Moore or Stephon Marbury to the roster. And it's easier to get up for playing the Suns than it is for playing Milwaukee. And so on.
The point here is that with so many balls in the air, it's getting tougher to diagnose the problem. So the easiest thing to do is just assume that the Celtics can simply flip the switch once KG returns, and, if not then, when the playoffs start.
3.16.2009
Dee Brown Making his Mark
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
He scored a season-high 18 points Friday night against Washington, just one week after his previous high of 14 against Sacramento. On Monday night, he was 5 for 6 in the runaway over Seattle, including some open jump shots in the 20-foot range.
Celtics rookie guard and No. 1 pick Dee Brown is in-Dee-d in the offensive flow these days. He was in double figures just once in the first 10 games, but has done it three times in his last six starts even as his shooting percentage has dramatically improved since the Sacramento game.
According to teammate Reggie Lewis, that makes the high-flying Celtics an even better basketball team. "When Dee gets his offensive game going," said Lewis, "it opens things up for everyone else. When the other team has to pay more attention to Dee, they can't double-team as much. It opens the whole court up and spreads the offense, and that makes us more effective."
Brown said after yesterday morning's practice at the Garden that he was reluctant to come out firing when the season began. "I was more concerned as a rookie point guard with getting other people into the flow of the game," he said. "Right now, I'm doing things more instinctively. The ball kicks out, and if the guy doesn't run out at me, I'll shoot it.
"If they leave me alone and I don't shoot, I think that would get coaches angrier than if I shot and missed -- and if you miss, well, you've got to keep at it and I'm more comfortable about that." Brown said he always had confidence in his jumper, but that he had to get more acquainted with the Celtics' offense and his new teammates in the very early going.
"I just had to get into the flow of the game," he said. "Teams are really starting to double down on Kevin (McHale) and Larry (Bird) now because they do so much with the ball. I'm glad I can take some offensive pressure off those two guys if they kick it off to me." Coach Chris Ford said that ever since the Sacramento game, Brown has been in a groove. "When he comes off picks now, he's looking for a shot if it's there," said Ford, who doesn't want his team to forget about the other end of the floor tonight
with the Denver Nuggets in town.
"You can get caught up with just playing offense and forgetting about defense," said Ford. "When we played them in the preseason, I told the guys, you're going to get layups and dunks, but I didn't want them to get those kind of shots. I wanted us to play defense. When you play Denver, you know you're going to get a lot of running in, so a lot of guys will get some minutes.
"It's always a scary game, because if you get caught up in that running game and decide not to play any defense and if you start kicking the ball over to them, you're going to be in for a long night." Brown agrees. "You've got to keep things under control," he said. "You've got to concentrate on what you want to do and not get caught up in what they want you to do. They want you to run down court, pull up and shoot 20-foot jumpers, but that extra pass can get you an easy layup. The Catch-22 is if they miss those jumpers, then we're going to get the long rebound and go. We'll run, but it'll have to be our style and not theirs."
That style has been complemented lately by Brown's hot hand. "It took a little time for Dee to get adjusted," said Lewis, "but he's feeling more relaxed and it makes us a better team."
Remembering the 29-5 Start
He scored a season-high 18 points Friday night against Washington, just one week after his previous high of 14 against Sacramento. On Monday night, he was 5 for 6 in the runaway over Seattle, including some open jump shots in the 20-foot range.
Celtics rookie guard and No. 1 pick Dee Brown is in-Dee-d in the offensive flow these days. He was in double figures just once in the first 10 games, but has done it three times in his last six starts even as his shooting percentage has dramatically improved since the Sacramento game.
According to teammate Reggie Lewis, that makes the high-flying Celtics an even better basketball team. "When Dee gets his offensive game going," said Lewis, "it opens things up for everyone else. When the other team has to pay more attention to Dee, they can't double-team as much. It opens the whole court up and spreads the offense, and that makes us more effective."
Brown said after yesterday morning's practice at the Garden that he was reluctant to come out firing when the season began. "I was more concerned as a rookie point guard with getting other people into the flow of the game," he said. "Right now, I'm doing things more instinctively. The ball kicks out, and if the guy doesn't run out at me, I'll shoot it.
"If they leave me alone and I don't shoot, I think that would get coaches angrier than if I shot and missed -- and if you miss, well, you've got to keep at it and I'm more comfortable about that." Brown said he always had confidence in his jumper, but that he had to get more acquainted with the Celtics' offense and his new teammates in the very early going.
"I just had to get into the flow of the game," he said. "Teams are really starting to double down on Kevin (McHale) and Larry (Bird) now because they do so much with the ball. I'm glad I can take some offensive pressure off those two guys if they kick it off to me." Coach Chris Ford said that ever since the Sacramento game, Brown has been in a groove. "When he comes off picks now, he's looking for a shot if it's there," said Ford, who doesn't want his team to forget about the other end of the floor tonight
with the Denver Nuggets in town.
"You can get caught up with just playing offense and forgetting about defense," said Ford. "When we played them in the preseason, I told the guys, you're going to get layups and dunks, but I didn't want them to get those kind of shots. I wanted us to play defense. When you play Denver, you know you're going to get a lot of running in, so a lot of guys will get some minutes.
"It's always a scary game, because if you get caught up in that running game and decide not to play any defense and if you start kicking the ball over to them, you're going to be in for a long night." Brown agrees. "You've got to keep things under control," he said. "You've got to concentrate on what you want to do and not get caught up in what they want you to do. They want you to run down court, pull up and shoot 20-foot jumpers, but that extra pass can get you an easy layup. The Catch-22 is if they miss those jumpers, then we're going to get the long rebound and go. We'll run, but it'll have to be our style and not theirs."
That style has been complemented lately by Brown's hot hand. "It took a little time for Dee to get adjusted," said Lewis, "but he's feeling more relaxed and it makes us a better team."
The Maestro’s Biggest Challenge
As Einstein would say, everything is relative.
Last year the Celtics’ post-game mantra was “we’re just trying to improve.” The Celtics’ players used that mantra time-and-again as they steamrolled their way to a 66-16 regular-season record and Banner 17.
The green tried that motto out again this year, too. You heard Doc, KG, Jesus, and P-Squared all tell us that their historic 27-2 start, which included an historic 19-game winning streak, was simply the product of “trying to improve.” A lot of Celtics’ fans took such talk with a grain of salt, kind of like when Vladimir Putin says things like “Russia is every bit as democratic as the United States.” Later on, during a shorter winning streak, Doc and the gang enjoyed an “I told you so” moment, with each of them declaring that the Celtics were playing better during the second winning streak than they had during the first.
But the mantra remained the same: “We’re just trying to get better.”
Anyone wanna bet there isn’t a Celtic on the team who wouldn’t today settle for a healthy roster and reverting to playing basketball like they were during the first winning streak? Doc is gonna have his hands full when everyone returns. The team is now loaded with talent. Depth is no longer an issue, if it ever was. Presuming everyone returns healthy, the question seems to be whether Doc Rivers, someone whom I’ve called the Maestro on at least occasion and maybe even two, can find the right touch for his once-great orchestra to rise from its current half-hearted, mistake-prone malaise into a confident group of artists who play at a world-class level based less on thought and more on instinct.
It’s too bad they don’t vote for coach of the year after the playoffs, because if Doc is up to the task, his coaching achievement would be truly monumental.
C's Thump Sonics in KC Jones' Return to the Gahden
Celtics Improve to 13-3
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
So many times he had emerged from a locker room in Boston Garden on the other side. The easy winner. A painless evening. Last night, however, K.C. Jones saw the other side of Boston Garden, the side his adversaries saw over and over again in the
mid-1980s. Jones' Seattle SuperSonics had just been taken to the woodshed by the Celtics , in the form of a 135-102 trouncing. What about it, coach? What about the 10 points in the third quarter? The abominable shooting? The clueless offense? "I think it was due to jet lag," Jones deadpanned. "The whole thing was due to jet lag." Why not? He didn't even opt for the obvious alibi -- the Missouri earthquake excuse.
Jones got a warm reception at his former home, a standing ovation of about 30 seconds. Then he watched as the Celtics made the Sonics look like equal parts Colgate and the Washington Generals in a watershed third quarter. When the horn sounded, Boston had a 22-point lead, ushering in a vintage fourth quarter of garbage time that featured 87 points, 52 shots and and no defense. The third quarter told you all you needed to know. After Derrick McKey scored on a dunk 18 seconds into it, the SuperSonics simply unraveled, missing shot after shot and yielding far too many layups.
The McKey hoop made it a 2-point game. Another McKey dunk -- the Sonics can dunk with anyone -- made it 69-62 and there still was no indication that a blowout was imminent. But the Celtics then ripped off 13 unanswered points, 4 each by Robert Parish (22 points, 9 rebounds) and Brian Shaw (14 points, 9 assists). Larry Bird (11 points, 10 rebounds) had 3 in the run, including a technical foul freebie as Jones said something naughty to referee Jimmy Clark.
The SubSonics were in the midst of a dry spell of Saharan proportions, going nearly 5 minutes without a point. The Celtics weren't exactly precision personified through all of this. They only shot 52 percent in the quarter and they committed 6 turnovers. True to form, however, the Sonics got zero points off the Boston miscues.
By the time the quarter ended, the once-competitive affair was now an official yawner, with the Celtics leading, 86-64. In that quarter, the Sonics shot 18 percent. Four of their shots were blocked, though that seemed a conservative figure. We could note that Seattle's plummeting dive coincided with an extended halftime to honor Johnny Most. The earthquake angle would be more credible. The Celtics had a little something to do with it, too.
"We came together in that quarter on both ends," Reggie Lewis (16 points) said. "We started rebounding. We spread the floor. We got easy baskets." And that was it. The only concern for Chris Ford was that he saw two routs -- and only one counted. The Celtics had come out strong and gone right for the jugular, building leads of of 8-0, 14-2 and 17-4. They looked sharp, committed, focused and ready to run.
The Sonics were none of the above. Their futility in that sequence, and really, for much of the game, was captured best by Xavier McDaniel, who was 1 for 10 from the field in 21 invisible minutes. "Things kinda got out of control," the X-Man said. But if there is one characteristic of this Celtics team, it's forgive and forget. They beat you up. Then they help you up.
They have become quite adept at blowing leads, though in most every case, they recover in time for a happy ending. "You cannot let up no matter what level you are at," Ford said. "You just can't." The Celtics did, of course, and soon Seattle was back into things as Sedale Threatt (20 points) and the acrobatic man-child, Shawn Kemp (19 points), got warm. Seattle also stayed alive with relentless board crashing, outrebounding the Celtics under the Boston basket in the first half.
"You just hope you don't fall into too many bad habits," Ford said. "You just gotta play through these nights and get the win." After Most was given his due, and a microphone unveiled high above courtside, the Celtics went back to work. By the fourth quarter, the lead swelled to 37 as the teams combined to shoot 69 percent in the final 12 minutes. Not even Most in his prime could have kept listeners enraptured at that point.
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
So many times he had emerged from a locker room in Boston Garden on the other side. The easy winner. A painless evening. Last night, however, K.C. Jones saw the other side of Boston Garden, the side his adversaries saw over and over again in the
mid-1980s. Jones' Seattle SuperSonics had just been taken to the woodshed by the Celtics , in the form of a 135-102 trouncing. What about it, coach? What about the 10 points in the third quarter? The abominable shooting? The clueless offense? "I think it was due to jet lag," Jones deadpanned. "The whole thing was due to jet lag." Why not? He didn't even opt for the obvious alibi -- the Missouri earthquake excuse.
Jones got a warm reception at his former home, a standing ovation of about 30 seconds. Then he watched as the Celtics made the Sonics look like equal parts Colgate and the Washington Generals in a watershed third quarter. When the horn sounded, Boston had a 22-point lead, ushering in a vintage fourth quarter of garbage time that featured 87 points, 52 shots and and no defense. The third quarter told you all you needed to know. After Derrick McKey scored on a dunk 18 seconds into it, the SuperSonics simply unraveled, missing shot after shot and yielding far too many layups.
The McKey hoop made it a 2-point game. Another McKey dunk -- the Sonics can dunk with anyone -- made it 69-62 and there still was no indication that a blowout was imminent. But the Celtics then ripped off 13 unanswered points, 4 each by Robert Parish (22 points, 9 rebounds) and Brian Shaw (14 points, 9 assists). Larry Bird (11 points, 10 rebounds) had 3 in the run, including a technical foul freebie as Jones said something naughty to referee Jimmy Clark.
The SubSonics were in the midst of a dry spell of Saharan proportions, going nearly 5 minutes without a point. The Celtics weren't exactly precision personified through all of this. They only shot 52 percent in the quarter and they committed 6 turnovers. True to form, however, the Sonics got zero points off the Boston miscues.
By the time the quarter ended, the once-competitive affair was now an official yawner, with the Celtics leading, 86-64. In that quarter, the Sonics shot 18 percent. Four of their shots were blocked, though that seemed a conservative figure. We could note that Seattle's plummeting dive coincided with an extended halftime to honor Johnny Most. The earthquake angle would be more credible. The Celtics had a little something to do with it, too.
"We came together in that quarter on both ends," Reggie Lewis (16 points) said. "We started rebounding. We spread the floor. We got easy baskets." And that was it. The only concern for Chris Ford was that he saw two routs -- and only one counted. The Celtics had come out strong and gone right for the jugular, building leads of of 8-0, 14-2 and 17-4. They looked sharp, committed, focused and ready to run.
The Sonics were none of the above. Their futility in that sequence, and really, for much of the game, was captured best by Xavier McDaniel, who was 1 for 10 from the field in 21 invisible minutes. "Things kinda got out of control," the X-Man said. But if there is one characteristic of this Celtics team, it's forgive and forget. They beat you up. Then they help you up.
They have become quite adept at blowing leads, though in most every case, they recover in time for a happy ending. "You cannot let up no matter what level you are at," Ford said. "You just can't." The Celtics did, of course, and soon Seattle was back into things as Sedale Threatt (20 points) and the acrobatic man-child, Shawn Kemp (19 points), got warm. Seattle also stayed alive with relentless board crashing, outrebounding the Celtics under the Boston basket in the first half.
"You just hope you don't fall into too many bad habits," Ford said. "You just gotta play through these nights and get the win." After Most was given his due, and a microphone unveiled high above courtside, the Celtics went back to work. By the fourth quarter, the lead swelled to 37 as the teams combined to shoot 69 percent in the final 12 minutes. Not even Most in his prime could have kept listeners enraptured at that point.
3.15.2009
Who Wants to Start the Second Round in Orlando?
Don't everyone raise your hand at the same time.The Boston Celtics have now lost three of four, and have 17 losses for the season, the same number as the Orlando Magic. The Celtics next seven games are at Chicago, at home against Miami, at San Antonio, at Memphis, at home against the Clippers, and on the road against Atlanta and Orlando. Sound like a lot of W's to you? April is just around the corner. Doc may need to change his nickname if he hopes to pull a rabbit out of his hat before the playoffs start.
Da Bench
22 minutes into game 67 and the Cetlics' bench continues giving us reason to smile:
Da Mik with another Waltonesque performance--4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 8 minutes.
Starberry adding 4 points and two assists of his own, combing with Da Mik to give the Celtics' bench more assists in one half than they used to average for an entire game BMM (before Marbury & Moore)
Bill Walker's played 4 minutes and hasn't hoisted a shot. So the kid is smart, too. He understands his role, and plays within it. Many more of these performances and I might have to agree with FCF and start giving #12 a preference over Tony Allen in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaking of prudence and restraint, Leon Powe, off back-to-back jaw-droppers, has held himself to one shot in 18 minutes of play in the first half. Not forcing shots is one of the differences separating a bench player with talent who gets PT and a bench player with talent who doesn't.
Da Mik with another Waltonesque performance--4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 8 minutes.
Starberry adding 4 points and two assists of his own, combing with Da Mik to give the Celtics' bench more assists in one half than they used to average for an entire game BMM (before Marbury & Moore)
Bill Walker's played 4 minutes and hasn't hoisted a shot. So the kid is smart, too. He understands his role, and plays within it. Many more of these performances and I might have to agree with FCF and start giving #12 a preference over Tony Allen in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaking of prudence and restraint, Leon Powe, off back-to-back jaw-droppers, has held himself to one shot in 18 minutes of play in the first half. Not forcing shots is one of the differences separating a bench player with talent who gets PT and a bench player with talent who doesn't.
Celtics Honor Most
1990-91 Boston Celtics
He thought it was a short-time gig, a lark of a job to pass the time before something really important broke back in the old hometown.
"I figured two years," Johnny Most explains. "Then I'd go back to New York. But Red made me feel so welcome, and Walter Brown became like a father. I started to get a love affair with Boston. So one year led to another and another and another and then 37."
And it came to a culmination last night, when Glenn Ordway pulled back a black cloth directly in front of the WEEI broadcast booth to reveal a green-framed silver microphone. As long as there is a Boston Garden, that reminder of the most famous broadcaster in Boston sports history will be there for all to see.
The guy from New York could never have envisioned a scene like last night's, as 14,890 people, acting as stand-ins for several hundred thousand of their fellow citizens, cheered and cheered and cheered during Johnny's halftime ceremony as the Celtics paid tribute to a unique man.
The gifts just kept on coming. WEEI's was an 18-karat white and yellow gold lapel pin with 37 diamonds. WEEI also announced the establishment of a $2,000 annual scholarship fund in Johnny's name at Emerson College. Satch Sanders, representing the NBA, brought an antique microphone. Red Auerbach gave him a unique ring symbolic of the 16 world championships he broadcast to the multitudes. Larry Bird gave him a piece of the floor (hopefully, the spot where Havlicek Stole The Ball).
Finally, the unveiling of the silver microphone. As long as there is a Boston Garden, Johnny Most will be up there, flanking the retired numbers. And why not? At a time when basketball was a mere pup among local sports, he was its most important public proponent.
"He was the perfect apostle," says Tom Heinsohn, who has known Johnny for 34 of those 37 years. "He created the invincible image of the team for people to latch onto when there weren't that many basketball fans in the area. He created the fans."
Johnny Most is a walking history of the Celtics. There were seven years of Celtics basketball pre-Most, but does it matter? Of course, but not to most people. If Johnny didn't see it, report it and, most likely, embellish it, it didn't matter.
How about a quick hit on the five epochal Celtics, as seen by Johnny Most?
Bob Cousy: "You saw him once, you had to admire him. No question about it. He made things up in mid-air. He had a fabulous imagination, and I used to say to myself subconsciously when he'd be coming up from the backcourt, 'What the expletive is he going to do now?' "
Bill Russell: "I had been told about Russell. Ex-Celtic Don Barksdale was my roommate. After he left the club, he said, 'You guys have got to get this big, skinny kid.' He told me all the things he could do. He said, 'They let him roam around the basket, nobody'll score.' "
John Havlicek: "I knew he'd be something special the first time I saw him play a full game. It was an exhibition game, and at the end of the game, he wasn't sweating. That was his game. He just took you apart by running you, running you, running you. Imagine. The timeout comes at three quarters. You look down at the other bench, and there's the guy who's been running you, running you, running you, and he's not even sweating! Now how discouraging could that be?"
Dave Cowens: "I believed in him right away, because I took one look in his eyes, and I knew this guy was a winner. He refused to lose, not because of his talent. He did have that magnificent body and that speed, but, most of all, he had that indomitable fire in his belly. He refused to lose. That's the first time I ever got that notion about a player, refusing to lose."
Larry Bird: "Bird is the most complete basketball player I ever saw. Magic Johnson is a very close second. People say Oscar Robertson, and he was great, but the difference was that when Oscar came down, his first option was him. And if he couldn't do anything, then he went to somebody else. These guys look to the other four, then to themselves."
In Johnny Most's world, there were only Celtics and those who wanted to be Celtics. There was even a hallowed category consisting of Those Who Should Have Been Celtics. Betcha can't guess who's the prime minister of that exclusive society.
"Mike Newlin."
Mike Newlin? The man an enraged Dave Cowens chased the length of the court and blasted to the parquet before running over to the official and bellowing, "Now THAT'S a foul."?
It's true.
"Mike Newlin absolutely should have been a Celtic," says Johnny. "Mike Newlin had compassion. Every time we'd play his team, he would come to me and he would say, 'Recite one of your poems.' "
This, I'm sure, Johnny did with relish. But the only poems his listeners wanted to hear came flying out of his lips during all those "basketball battles" all those years.
Hey, John: thanks for sticking around.
He thought it was a short-time gig, a lark of a job to pass the time before something really important broke back in the old hometown.
"I figured two years," Johnny Most explains. "Then I'd go back to New York. But Red made me feel so welcome, and Walter Brown became like a father. I started to get a love affair with Boston. So one year led to another and another and another and then 37."
And it came to a culmination last night, when Glenn Ordway pulled back a black cloth directly in front of the WEEI broadcast booth to reveal a green-framed silver microphone. As long as there is a Boston Garden, that reminder of the most famous broadcaster in Boston sports history will be there for all to see.
The guy from New York could never have envisioned a scene like last night's, as 14,890 people, acting as stand-ins for several hundred thousand of their fellow citizens, cheered and cheered and cheered during Johnny's halftime ceremony as the Celtics paid tribute to a unique man.
The gifts just kept on coming. WEEI's was an 18-karat white and yellow gold lapel pin with 37 diamonds. WEEI also announced the establishment of a $2,000 annual scholarship fund in Johnny's name at Emerson College. Satch Sanders, representing the NBA, brought an antique microphone. Red Auerbach gave him a unique ring symbolic of the 16 world championships he broadcast to the multitudes. Larry Bird gave him a piece of the floor (hopefully, the spot where Havlicek Stole The Ball).
Finally, the unveiling of the silver microphone. As long as there is a Boston Garden, Johnny Most will be up there, flanking the retired numbers. And why not? At a time when basketball was a mere pup among local sports, he was its most important public proponent.
"He was the perfect apostle," says Tom Heinsohn, who has known Johnny for 34 of those 37 years. "He created the invincible image of the team for people to latch onto when there weren't that many basketball fans in the area. He created the fans."
Johnny Most is a walking history of the Celtics. There were seven years of Celtics basketball pre-Most, but does it matter? Of course, but not to most people. If Johnny didn't see it, report it and, most likely, embellish it, it didn't matter.
How about a quick hit on the five epochal Celtics, as seen by Johnny Most?
Bob Cousy: "You saw him once, you had to admire him. No question about it. He made things up in mid-air. He had a fabulous imagination, and I used to say to myself subconsciously when he'd be coming up from the backcourt, 'What the expletive is he going to do now?' "
Bill Russell: "I had been told about Russell. Ex-Celtic Don Barksdale was my roommate. After he left the club, he said, 'You guys have got to get this big, skinny kid.' He told me all the things he could do. He said, 'They let him roam around the basket, nobody'll score.' "
John Havlicek: "I knew he'd be something special the first time I saw him play a full game. It was an exhibition game, and at the end of the game, he wasn't sweating. That was his game. He just took you apart by running you, running you, running you. Imagine. The timeout comes at three quarters. You look down at the other bench, and there's the guy who's been running you, running you, running you, and he's not even sweating! Now how discouraging could that be?"
Dave Cowens: "I believed in him right away, because I took one look in his eyes, and I knew this guy was a winner. He refused to lose, not because of his talent. He did have that magnificent body and that speed, but, most of all, he had that indomitable fire in his belly. He refused to lose. That's the first time I ever got that notion about a player, refusing to lose."
Larry Bird: "Bird is the most complete basketball player I ever saw. Magic Johnson is a very close second. People say Oscar Robertson, and he was great, but the difference was that when Oscar came down, his first option was him. And if he couldn't do anything, then he went to somebody else. These guys look to the other four, then to themselves."
In Johnny Most's world, there were only Celtics and those who wanted to be Celtics. There was even a hallowed category consisting of Those Who Should Have Been Celtics. Betcha can't guess who's the prime minister of that exclusive society.
"Mike Newlin."
Mike Newlin? The man an enraged Dave Cowens chased the length of the court and blasted to the parquet before running over to the official and bellowing, "Now THAT'S a foul."?
It's true.
"Mike Newlin absolutely should have been a Celtic," says Johnny. "Mike Newlin had compassion. Every time we'd play his team, he would come to me and he would say, 'Recite one of your poems.' "
This, I'm sure, Johnny did with relish. But the only poems his listeners wanted to hear came flying out of his lips during all those "basketball battles" all those years.
Hey, John: thanks for sticking around.
More on Most
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Last Thursday night a retirement roast was held for Johnny Most. A long list of speakers joked about his excesses, from his broadcasting, to smoking, to caffeine, to insomnia, and other eccentricities. Everyone laughed.
Finally, it was the roastee's turn to speak. When Most got up, he looked frail and terribly tired. Only his voice seemed strong. "When someone roasts you, it is a sign of affection . . . I do not look upon this as an ending, but as a new beginning," he said.
Most spoke for only three minutes, saying how fortunate he had been during his career. He paid special tribute to the late Walter Brown, the founder of the Celtics who hired him 37 years ago. Most concluded with a poem he had written. It wasn't Tennyson, but it was sensitive and contained meter.
Was this the person all those macho guys had been cracking jokes about for 90 minutes? What had Most thought while listening and watching?
What was Johnny Most thinking all those years, seemingly trudging along absent-mindedly, the center of attention among fans who loved him and those on the road who loathed him? What was he thinking in recent years as many Boston players disdained him, oblivious to how pivotal a role Most played in creating the Celtic mystique that they were now basking in?
I have known Most for more than 20 years without penetrating beyond the public personality. But you sensed there was more there. He never reacted to written criticism of his increasingly careless broadcasting habits, but two years ago the delayed confrontation seemed imminent as he walked toward me at the Garden. He took my hand and expressed genuine thanks for attending his father's funeral a few days earlier.
Most's voice was so strong and familiar that small talk in a delicatessen would be heard several tables away. People often would speak to him and ask about the Celtics' chances. His association with the team was so ingrained that offseason work was very limited. He became famous, but not rich.
Most battled increasingly bad health after suffering a stroke seven years ago. He became more crotchety. Three years ago he was almost abrupt to adults waiting in line for his autograph following a sound-alike contest in Cambridge. But no amount of rudeness could ruin the moment for them, it seemed.
"I am the show," Most told partner Glenn Ordway a few years ago after being told to hurry because the pregame show was about to begin on WEEI. Indeed, from 1953 to about 1980, he was the show and various on-air partners were largely valets.
When the game began they got out of the way. Fans watching television turned on radios to hear Most describe crunch time. In his prime, the attention was well placed. Most was rapid-fire, knew the game and tendencies of the players cold turkey, would spontaneously insert humor and hyperbole, and seize dramatic moments as no else could or would dare do. His was a rare combination of talents.
WEEI will air approximately 90 minutes of Johnny Most recordings tonight at 6, leading into the retirement salute at Boston Garden during halftime of the Celtics-Sonics game. They are worth recording because we will not again hear someone of his talent. During the roast the other night, someone should have stopped telling jokes long enough to plainly state that.
Last Thursday night a retirement roast was held for Johnny Most. A long list of speakers joked about his excesses, from his broadcasting, to smoking, to caffeine, to insomnia, and other eccentricities. Everyone laughed.
Finally, it was the roastee's turn to speak. When Most got up, he looked frail and terribly tired. Only his voice seemed strong. "When someone roasts you, it is a sign of affection . . . I do not look upon this as an ending, but as a new beginning," he said.
Most spoke for only three minutes, saying how fortunate he had been during his career. He paid special tribute to the late Walter Brown, the founder of the Celtics who hired him 37 years ago. Most concluded with a poem he had written. It wasn't Tennyson, but it was sensitive and contained meter.
Was this the person all those macho guys had been cracking jokes about for 90 minutes? What had Most thought while listening and watching?
What was Johnny Most thinking all those years, seemingly trudging along absent-mindedly, the center of attention among fans who loved him and those on the road who loathed him? What was he thinking in recent years as many Boston players disdained him, oblivious to how pivotal a role Most played in creating the Celtic mystique that they were now basking in?
I have known Most for more than 20 years without penetrating beyond the public personality. But you sensed there was more there. He never reacted to written criticism of his increasingly careless broadcasting habits, but two years ago the delayed confrontation seemed imminent as he walked toward me at the Garden. He took my hand and expressed genuine thanks for attending his father's funeral a few days earlier.
Most's voice was so strong and familiar that small talk in a delicatessen would be heard several tables away. People often would speak to him and ask about the Celtics' chances. His association with the team was so ingrained that offseason work was very limited. He became famous, but not rich.
Most battled increasingly bad health after suffering a stroke seven years ago. He became more crotchety. Three years ago he was almost abrupt to adults waiting in line for his autograph following a sound-alike contest in Cambridge. But no amount of rudeness could ruin the moment for them, it seemed.
"I am the show," Most told partner Glenn Ordway a few years ago after being told to hurry because the pregame show was about to begin on WEEI. Indeed, from 1953 to about 1980, he was the show and various on-air partners were largely valets.
When the game began they got out of the way. Fans watching television turned on radios to hear Most describe crunch time. In his prime, the attention was well placed. Most was rapid-fire, knew the game and tendencies of the players cold turkey, would spontaneously insert humor and hyperbole, and seize dramatic moments as no else could or would dare do. His was a rare combination of talents.
WEEI will air approximately 90 minutes of Johnny Most recordings tonight at 6, leading into the retirement salute at Boston Garden during halftime of the Celtics-Sonics game. They are worth recording because we will not again hear someone of his talent. During the roast the other night, someone should have stopped telling jokes long enough to plainly state that.
3.14.2009
Da Mik
On a night when Leon Powe went for 30, 11, & 5, Rajon Rondo made a triumphant return, and Stephon Marbury showed signs of shaking off the rust, Mikki Moore registered a noteworthy performance of his own. Da Mik not only went 3-3 from the field for six points, he added two assists and eight rebounds in 22 minutes. Mikki was also +12 for the evening, or good enough to lead the entire Celtic team. Of all those impressive numbers, I'm gonna highlight the 8 boards in 22 minutes, a number right on target with Bill Walton's average of 6.8 rebounds in 19 minutes for the 1985-86 Boston Celtics. If Moore can replicate that kind of rebounding average with any regularity, I think Celtic Nation will start warming up to this bench in a hurry.
But word of caution: he did this against the Grizz.
But word of caution: he did this against the Grizz.
A Win is a Win But...
A win is a win, but a 10-point win over the 16-48 Memphis Grizzlies is nothing to get excited about, especially when the win is at home. The good news is that the win keeps the Celtics one game ahead of the Magic for home court in the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics' bench posted 8 assists, five by Stephon Marbury. Before the Celtics acquired Employee #8, the Celtics' bench was averaging 3.9 assists per game. If Leon Powe continues playing this way when he returns to the bench, he might earn himself a role as the first guy off the bench, instead of being just one guy of several that Doc uses on a situational basis.
Most to be Honored
1990-91 Boston Celtics
12/3/90
What male sports fan who has lived in the Greater Boston area at any time during the past 35 years has not risked permanent damage to his throat by trying to do a Johnny Most?
That's celebrity.
We've all heard some great Johnny Mosts. There have been official Johnny Most Sound-Alike Contests, and there have been some wonderful talk show callers and practically everyone's sports circle has someone who does a passable Johnny Most -- for about 10 seconds. Johnny Most is part of the very fabric of Boston sports and entertainment life.
But as humorous and accurate as the would-be Mosts are, there is never any real danger of mistaking them for the real item. The man who will be honored at Boston Garden tonight has about him a passion and genuineness that even the most uncanny impersonator cannot duplicate.
For along with a unique sound, Johnny Most has a unique sportscasting soul. He springs forth from a lost culture, if you will. There is never going to be another Johnny Most because we aren't going to be producing any more broadcasters with a '30s Brooklyn Jewish political activist background; who were World War II veterans; who played college football weighing less than 160 pounds; who could recite every sideman Benny Goodman ever had; and who compose haiku in their spare time. And who, along the way, accumulated the sports savvy that was endemic to that particular generation of New Yorkers.
Johnny Most is an intelligent announcer;
never forget that. A bit biased, perhaps, but intelligent. And witty. People repeat Most routines, but never forget that these things just tumbled out of his mouth on the spot. Take McFilthy and McNasty (and don't ask which was which, because by this time I'm not sure Johnny remembers himself). That's an inspired description of Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn, in whatever order. Or the night when Johnny wondered aloud that if Rick Barry were to fall in love again, would he insist on doing it with himself?
One thing is certain: the Boston Celtics could never thank Johnny Most enough for what he has meant to the organization. In terms of nonplaying personnel, the three most important people in the history of the ballclub have been Walter Brown, who founded and nurtured them; Red Auerbach, who taught them how to win; and Johnny Most, who has preached the Celtics gospel to the masses in his unique style.
You've got to be at least 30, and possibly a little older, to realize that the Celtics weren't always the prominent local institution they are today. When Johnny Most arrived in Boston to be the radio play-by-play man in 1953, the Celtics were a struggling team that had never won anything and had a very modest fan base. The only reason they were in business at all was the fact that Walter Brown was a very stubborn man. He was, in fact, a hockey man who had started the Celtics in 1946 as a business proposition and had unaccountably fallen in love with his creation.
A conventional play-by-play man wouldn't do. Walter and Red needed a salesman and a personality, someone who could attract attention to the team just by being there. It did not take long for people to learn that this new guy from New York not only had a very strange-sounding voice, but was also one very excitable character. He could make a Bob Cousy behind-the-back pass sound like a celebration on V-J Day. When Bill Russell came during Johnny's third year, the mesh between team and spokesman was perfect. People in Boston were just getting used to Johnny Most, and now things were really getting interesting because with this Russell kid and this Heinsohn kid there was a wonderful new adventure to relate every night. Even on nights when the team itself was not exactly larger-than-life, Johnny Most always was.
Slowly, the mystique grew. Johnny's vivid description of Russell plays ("He came from NOWHERE!!!!!") and Sam Jones bankers (it was Johnny who gave us the phrase "stop and pop") and Cousy's magic became familiar to Bostonians. The voice grew raspier and trickier. You wouldn't think of missing a broadcast, if only to hear the standard Voice One give way to a more excited Voice Two, or perhaps even to Voice Three, an eerie pitch used to describe truly special occurrences (Voice Three goes on for an astonishing minute and four seconds during the epic "Havlicek Stole The Ball" description).
There was even a more amazing phenomenon. Above Voice Three, Johnny even had another sound entitled Dog Whistle. This took place when Voice Three ran out of gas and the only sound was a faint whisper. Dog Whistle was very big in the '70s.
It is no longer possible to think of the Celtics without thinking about Johnny Most. All the Celtics' greats of the past three-and-a-half decades have taken on a life for thousands who have never even been near the Garden because Johnny Most has given them an image. This was especially true during the '50s and '60s, when he hung nicknames on many of them. The names were often corny, but they stuck because Johnny was Johnny and thus able to sell his audience on anything. Johnny was always accessible as a personality to his audience. As great as Chick Hearn and Marv Albert are, could either have spit out "Jarrin' John, the Bouncing Buckeye from Ohio State" and not have had the listener start wrinkling his or her nose? Johnny got away with this for 16 years, and it always sounded appropriate.
What was always lost in the depths of Johnny's singular air presence was the fact that in his prime he was a blindingly fast and accurate follower of the action. With Johnny you got the picks, the switches, the block-outs and assorted other peripheral observations in addition to the shots, rebounds and assists. Johnny Most knows his basketball. The problem, if any, was that he chose not to disclose the depths of his knowledge if that meant describing the Celtics in a negative manner. Through many a Boston clunker the worst Johnny could bring himself to say was that "The lid was on tonight." When all else has failed, of course, Johnny has never had any difficulty ascribing guilt to the men blowing the whistles.
They're retiring his microphone tonight, but they'll never retire his spirit. And nothing they can do will ever adequately thank him. That premise is nonnegotiable.
12/3/90
What male sports fan who has lived in the Greater Boston area at any time during the past 35 years has not risked permanent damage to his throat by trying to do a Johnny Most?
That's celebrity.
We've all heard some great Johnny Mosts. There have been official Johnny Most Sound-Alike Contests, and there have been some wonderful talk show callers and practically everyone's sports circle has someone who does a passable Johnny Most -- for about 10 seconds. Johnny Most is part of the very fabric of Boston sports and entertainment life.
But as humorous and accurate as the would-be Mosts are, there is never any real danger of mistaking them for the real item. The man who will be honored at Boston Garden tonight has about him a passion and genuineness that even the most uncanny impersonator cannot duplicate.
For along with a unique sound, Johnny Most has a unique sportscasting soul. He springs forth from a lost culture, if you will. There is never going to be another Johnny Most because we aren't going to be producing any more broadcasters with a '30s Brooklyn Jewish political activist background; who were World War II veterans; who played college football weighing less than 160 pounds; who could recite every sideman Benny Goodman ever had; and who compose haiku in their spare time. And who, along the way, accumulated the sports savvy that was endemic to that particular generation of New Yorkers.
Johnny Most is an intelligent announcer;
never forget that. A bit biased, perhaps, but intelligent. And witty. People repeat Most routines, but never forget that these things just tumbled out of his mouth on the spot. Take McFilthy and McNasty (and don't ask which was which, because by this time I'm not sure Johnny remembers himself). That's an inspired description of Jeff Ruland and Rick Mahorn, in whatever order. Or the night when Johnny wondered aloud that if Rick Barry were to fall in love again, would he insist on doing it with himself?
One thing is certain: the Boston Celtics could never thank Johnny Most enough for what he has meant to the organization. In terms of nonplaying personnel, the three most important people in the history of the ballclub have been Walter Brown, who founded and nurtured them; Red Auerbach, who taught them how to win; and Johnny Most, who has preached the Celtics gospel to the masses in his unique style.
You've got to be at least 30, and possibly a little older, to realize that the Celtics weren't always the prominent local institution they are today. When Johnny Most arrived in Boston to be the radio play-by-play man in 1953, the Celtics were a struggling team that had never won anything and had a very modest fan base. The only reason they were in business at all was the fact that Walter Brown was a very stubborn man. He was, in fact, a hockey man who had started the Celtics in 1946 as a business proposition and had unaccountably fallen in love with his creation.
A conventional play-by-play man wouldn't do. Walter and Red needed a salesman and a personality, someone who could attract attention to the team just by being there. It did not take long for people to learn that this new guy from New York not only had a very strange-sounding voice, but was also one very excitable character. He could make a Bob Cousy behind-the-back pass sound like a celebration on V-J Day. When Bill Russell came during Johnny's third year, the mesh between team and spokesman was perfect. People in Boston were just getting used to Johnny Most, and now things were really getting interesting because with this Russell kid and this Heinsohn kid there was a wonderful new adventure to relate every night. Even on nights when the team itself was not exactly larger-than-life, Johnny Most always was.
Slowly, the mystique grew. Johnny's vivid description of Russell plays ("He came from NOWHERE!!!!!") and Sam Jones bankers (it was Johnny who gave us the phrase "stop and pop") and Cousy's magic became familiar to Bostonians. The voice grew raspier and trickier. You wouldn't think of missing a broadcast, if only to hear the standard Voice One give way to a more excited Voice Two, or perhaps even to Voice Three, an eerie pitch used to describe truly special occurrences (Voice Three goes on for an astonishing minute and four seconds during the epic "Havlicek Stole The Ball" description).
There was even a more amazing phenomenon. Above Voice Three, Johnny even had another sound entitled Dog Whistle. This took place when Voice Three ran out of gas and the only sound was a faint whisper. Dog Whistle was very big in the '70s.
It is no longer possible to think of the Celtics without thinking about Johnny Most. All the Celtics' greats of the past three-and-a-half decades have taken on a life for thousands who have never even been near the Garden because Johnny Most has given them an image. This was especially true during the '50s and '60s, when he hung nicknames on many of them. The names were often corny, but they stuck because Johnny was Johnny and thus able to sell his audience on anything. Johnny was always accessible as a personality to his audience. As great as Chick Hearn and Marv Albert are, could either have spit out "Jarrin' John, the Bouncing Buckeye from Ohio State" and not have had the listener start wrinkling his or her nose? Johnny got away with this for 16 years, and it always sounded appropriate.
What was always lost in the depths of Johnny's singular air presence was the fact that in his prime he was a blindingly fast and accurate follower of the action. With Johnny you got the picks, the switches, the block-outs and assorted other peripheral observations in addition to the shots, rebounds and assists. Johnny Most knows his basketball. The problem, if any, was that he chose not to disclose the depths of his knowledge if that meant describing the Celtics in a negative manner. Through many a Boston clunker the worst Johnny could bring himself to say was that "The lid was on tonight." When all else has failed, of course, Johnny has never had any difficulty ascribing guilt to the men blowing the whistles.
They're retiring his microphone tonight, but they'll never retire his spirit. And nothing they can do will ever adequately thank him. That premise is nonnegotiable.
3.13.2009
You People Are Crazy
If you have had any free time lately and you're a Celtics' fan, you'll fully understand this next piece of advice: Visit Celtics' message boards at your own peril.
Stephon Marbury is a failure. He's fallen flat on his face. Cut Starbury and bring back Cassell. On and on and on ad nauseum. I hate to sound like Rick Pitino, but here's a double-dose. First, the negativity in this town sucks. Second, don't keep the light on because Sam Cassell won't be walking through those doors to replace Stephon Marbury any time soon.
I'm not promising you anything. There's no guarantee that Steph will ever get it going. Hell, there's no guarantee the Celtics will ever get it going. But I'll tell you this. The Celtics and Bulls played a game on Easter Sunday 1991. Guess who won the game? Da green, beating Chicago for the second time in the regular season. Guess who won the world championship in June? Da Bulls. Guess how far Boston got? Eastern Conference Semis, where they lost in 6.
Moral of the story? These end-of-the-regular-season games don't mean (Bo) Diddley, and they really don't mean anything until KG gets back. Once he returns, I'd just keep on chilling until the first round of the playoffs. Then if you want to walk the floors at night, be my guest. I'll probably be right there with you. But until then can we just all take a collective Valium?
Please?
Stephon Marbury is a failure. He's fallen flat on his face. Cut Starbury and bring back Cassell. On and on and on ad nauseum. I hate to sound like Rick Pitino, but here's a double-dose. First, the negativity in this town sucks. Second, don't keep the light on because Sam Cassell won't be walking through those doors to replace Stephon Marbury any time soon.
I'm not promising you anything. There's no guarantee that Steph will ever get it going. Hell, there's no guarantee the Celtics will ever get it going. But I'll tell you this. The Celtics and Bulls played a game on Easter Sunday 1991. Guess who won the game? Da green, beating Chicago for the second time in the regular season. Guess who won the world championship in June? Da Bulls. Guess how far Boston got? Eastern Conference Semis, where they lost in 6.
Moral of the story? These end-of-the-regular-season games don't mean (Bo) Diddley, and they really don't mean anything until KG gets back. Once he returns, I'd just keep on chilling until the first round of the playoffs. Then if you want to walk the floors at night, be my guest. I'll probably be right there with you. But until then can we just all take a collective Valium?
Please?
1990-91 Boston Celtics Video: Game 3
Celtics win 110-108 on a last-second put-back by Brian Shaw. Trailing most of the game, sometimes by double-digits, the green someone pull this one out.
Red Weighs in on the 1990-91 Celtics
1990-91 Boston Celtics
12/2/90
These days, his absence is more noticeable than his presence. If Red Auerbach isn't perched in his loge seat across the way from the Celtics ' bench on game night, people start whispering. Where is he? What's wrong? Is he sick?
Auerbach wants you to relax. He's been scarce lately because of a back injury suffered while playing racquetball. That has not prevented him from observing Boston's fast start.
"The time to start worrying is when you are winning," he said. "The time to improve your ballclub is when you are winning. Chris Ford is doing an excellent job, but we still need a little help."
In other words, Boston is still trying to make a deal. According to the old master, the locals are still two players away from being a true contender. Red is thrilled with Brian Shaw, disappointed with John Bagley and happy with the way The Big Three have approached the 1990-91 season. Here are Auerbach's thoughts on the troops:
- On Chris Ford: "I like how he's got them going. I wanted him to be the coach all along. I felt going from assistant to head coach would not be a problem with him because he can be tough. I'll be curious to find out what he does during adversity, but my guess is he'll be fine."
- On former coach Jimmy Rodgers: "Jimmy was a damn good coach. If he had any failing, it was he liked his players too much. There's got to be a line you can't cross, and Jimmy crossed it. That affected the motivation of his players. In fairness, Jimmy didn't have Brian Shaw or Dee Brown, but that's the way the life of a coach is. It's too bad Jimmy has sort of gone into hiding instead of saying, 'Hey, I have a good record and I'm going to profit from my mistakes.' So many other coaches have had three, four, five jobs. Look at Dick Motta, Gene Shue, Bill Fitch. I wish Jimmy would get back out there."
- On Larry Bird: "He's happier this year because he's got more freedom of motion. Ballplayers like that. Playing in a strictly half-court game means more of a physical beating, and it's not fun. Last year was hard for Larry, I think. This is a guy who built his whole career on pride. But as great as Larry is, he needed to be told certain things. Last year he wasn't told anything. I coached my share of superstars, and sometimes you need to give them hell, whether it's a Russell or a Heinsohn. Players actually like it. Otherwise, they get in a rut, get careless."
- On Kevin Gamble: "He's been the best surprise, no question. We always knew he had talent; it was whether he could sustain it. Now that he's getting the opportunity, he's doing it. Last year he got into periods of sulkiness, the kind of attitude where he said, 'Well, I'm not playing, anyway; why should I bother?' But that's the whole key for bench players: to work harder when you're not playing, so you'll be ready when the time comes."
- On Brian Shaw: "He's been the key to the whole thing. He's brought it together. I told everyone the whole thing would blow over. I really don't care what happened. Doesn't matter. He's here and he's running, playing defense, rebounding very well from that guard spot. Bird is the leader now, but this kid will be later. His shooting will improve, too. I always thought he was a good kid. I still think that."
- On Michael Smith: "I haven't seen much of him this year. I'll tell you one thing: I'm impressed with his work ethic. He's doing now what Gamble should have done last year. I'm not ready to give up on him. He's got a lot of talent."
- On John Bagley: (Long silence.) "I don't know what to think. He made the same mistake Mike Smith made last year. He came in heavy. When you come in heavy, you get hurt. It's up to Chris what happens with him. He's going to have to earn his job back in practice."
- On Kevin McHale: "Boy, is he happy as can be. He's just the greatest influence you could ask for. There was talk years ago about trading McHale, and I'm telling you none of it was true. There was no way he was going to be traded. Owners Alan Cohen and Don Gaston totally agreed with me on that. Players like him come around once in a long, long while. If you trade guys like that, you never win a championship."
12/2/90
These days, his absence is more noticeable than his presence. If Red Auerbach isn't perched in his loge seat across the way from the Celtics ' bench on game night, people start whispering. Where is he? What's wrong? Is he sick?
Auerbach wants you to relax. He's been scarce lately because of a back injury suffered while playing racquetball. That has not prevented him from observing Boston's fast start.
"The time to start worrying is when you are winning," he said. "The time to improve your ballclub is when you are winning. Chris Ford is doing an excellent job, but we still need a little help."
In other words, Boston is still trying to make a deal. According to the old master, the locals are still two players away from being a true contender. Red is thrilled with Brian Shaw, disappointed with John Bagley and happy with the way The Big Three have approached the 1990-91 season. Here are Auerbach's thoughts on the troops:
- On Chris Ford: "I like how he's got them going. I wanted him to be the coach all along. I felt going from assistant to head coach would not be a problem with him because he can be tough. I'll be curious to find out what he does during adversity, but my guess is he'll be fine."
- On former coach Jimmy Rodgers: "Jimmy was a damn good coach. If he had any failing, it was he liked his players too much. There's got to be a line you can't cross, and Jimmy crossed it. That affected the motivation of his players. In fairness, Jimmy didn't have Brian Shaw or Dee Brown, but that's the way the life of a coach is. It's too bad Jimmy has sort of gone into hiding instead of saying, 'Hey, I have a good record and I'm going to profit from my mistakes.' So many other coaches have had three, four, five jobs. Look at Dick Motta, Gene Shue, Bill Fitch. I wish Jimmy would get back out there."
- On Larry Bird: "He's happier this year because he's got more freedom of motion. Ballplayers like that. Playing in a strictly half-court game means more of a physical beating, and it's not fun. Last year was hard for Larry, I think. This is a guy who built his whole career on pride. But as great as Larry is, he needed to be told certain things. Last year he wasn't told anything. I coached my share of superstars, and sometimes you need to give them hell, whether it's a Russell or a Heinsohn. Players actually like it. Otherwise, they get in a rut, get careless."
- On Kevin Gamble: "He's been the best surprise, no question. We always knew he had talent; it was whether he could sustain it. Now that he's getting the opportunity, he's doing it. Last year he got into periods of sulkiness, the kind of attitude where he said, 'Well, I'm not playing, anyway; why should I bother?' But that's the whole key for bench players: to work harder when you're not playing, so you'll be ready when the time comes."
- On Brian Shaw: "He's been the key to the whole thing. He's brought it together. I told everyone the whole thing would blow over. I really don't care what happened. Doesn't matter. He's here and he's running, playing defense, rebounding very well from that guard spot. Bird is the leader now, but this kid will be later. His shooting will improve, too. I always thought he was a good kid. I still think that."
- On Michael Smith: "I haven't seen much of him this year. I'll tell you one thing: I'm impressed with his work ethic. He's doing now what Gamble should have done last year. I'm not ready to give up on him. He's got a lot of talent."
- On John Bagley: (Long silence.) "I don't know what to think. He made the same mistake Mike Smith made last year. He came in heavy. When you come in heavy, you get hurt. It's up to Chris what happens with him. He's going to have to earn his job back in practice."
- On Kevin McHale: "Boy, is he happy as can be. He's just the greatest influence you could ask for. There was talk years ago about trading McHale, and I'm telling you none of it was true. There was no way he was going to be traded. Owners Alan Cohen and Don Gaston totally agreed with me on that. Players like him come around once in a long, long while. If you trade guys like that, you never win a championship."
Celtics Not Discouraged by Loss to Philly
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
They meet again in 16 days. By that time, Charles Barkley may even be talking trash again. The Celtics may have found an extra body. Hey, Lou Gorman may even have found a pitcher.
What seems undeniable, however, is that the Celtics and Sixers will be doing a lot of scoreboard watching this season. They were picked 1-2 or 2-1 in the Atlantic Division by most everyone and nothing has happened in the first month to make any of the prognosticators look foolish.
The Sixers appear to have regrouped after the loss of Johnny Dawkins, at least for now. They certainly didn't miss him Saturday. All Rickey Green and Andre Turner managed to do was combine for 23 points, 13 assists and 0 turnovers.
And the Celtics have absolutely no reason to feel discouraged after Saturday's 116-110 defeat in the Spectrum. The presence of Seattle tonight won't let them dwell on the game anyway, but Chris Ford had little to gripe about (other than the result) after the club's first road test in December.
Simply, had the Celtics been the home team, they likely would have won. That they didn't is as much a testimony to the reality of life in the NBA as it is to the Sixers' strengths.
The Celtics had dug themselves out of huge holes in New York and Chicago and stolen victories. They had no chance in Milwaukee. But they had a real chance to steal one in Philadelphia and it took a sublime effort from Barkley to prevent them from doing so.
The last time the Celtics played in the Spectrum in what could be construed as an important game, they were mauled. Saturday, they recovered from a slow start, trailing by 12, and were tied with 6:32 left.
"I can't be too disturbed," Ford said. "The effort was there."
And you can count on Philadelphia doing the same in Boston Dec. 19. Barkley may be dealing in platitudes after the game, but during the game, he is anything but predictable.
Between now and then, Larry Bird will turn 34 and the Atlantic Division race may even tighten. After a cupcake daily-double this week (Seattle/Denver), the Celtics travel to Texas for three games in four nights and then return home to face Milwaukee and Detroit.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are in a homestand of sorts. Five of their next six are at the Spectrum and the one road game is Orlando.
The Boston-Philadelphia rivalry may not be what it was in the early 1980s or the 1960s, but it still is a pretty good take. The Sixers, who are struggling at the gate, had their first sellout of the season Saturday. Barkley didn't disappoint the fans, scoring 37 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Boston is 7-26 in Philadelphia since Bird came into the league, and 4-16 since the arrival of Barkley for the 1984-85 season.
Remembering the 29-5 Start
They meet again in 16 days. By that time, Charles Barkley may even be talking trash again. The Celtics may have found an extra body. Hey, Lou Gorman may even have found a pitcher.
What seems undeniable, however, is that the Celtics and Sixers will be doing a lot of scoreboard watching this season. They were picked 1-2 or 2-1 in the Atlantic Division by most everyone and nothing has happened in the first month to make any of the prognosticators look foolish.
The Sixers appear to have regrouped after the loss of Johnny Dawkins, at least for now. They certainly didn't miss him Saturday. All Rickey Green and Andre Turner managed to do was combine for 23 points, 13 assists and 0 turnovers.
And the Celtics have absolutely no reason to feel discouraged after Saturday's 116-110 defeat in the Spectrum. The presence of Seattle tonight won't let them dwell on the game anyway, but Chris Ford had little to gripe about (other than the result) after the club's first road test in December.
Simply, had the Celtics been the home team, they likely would have won. That they didn't is as much a testimony to the reality of life in the NBA as it is to the Sixers' strengths.
The Celtics had dug themselves out of huge holes in New York and Chicago and stolen victories. They had no chance in Milwaukee. But they had a real chance to steal one in Philadelphia and it took a sublime effort from Barkley to prevent them from doing so.
The last time the Celtics played in the Spectrum in what could be construed as an important game, they were mauled. Saturday, they recovered from a slow start, trailing by 12, and were tied with 6:32 left.
"I can't be too disturbed," Ford said. "The effort was there."
And you can count on Philadelphia doing the same in Boston Dec. 19. Barkley may be dealing in platitudes after the game, but during the game, he is anything but predictable.
Between now and then, Larry Bird will turn 34 and the Atlantic Division race may even tighten. After a cupcake daily-double this week (Seattle/Denver), the Celtics travel to Texas for three games in four nights and then return home to face Milwaukee and Detroit.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are in a homestand of sorts. Five of their next six are at the Spectrum and the one road game is Orlando.
The Boston-Philadelphia rivalry may not be what it was in the early 1980s or the 1960s, but it still is a pretty good take. The Sixers, who are struggling at the gate, had their first sellout of the season Saturday. Barkley didn't disappoint the fans, scoring 37 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Boston is 7-26 in Philadelphia since Bird came into the league, and 4-16 since the arrival of Barkley for the 1984-85 season.
Sixers Slow Celts
Celtics Fall to 12-3
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
Too much Charles.
The Celtics , 76ers and anyone else remotely associated with the NBA could have predicted a Charles Barkley explosion last night.
All the elements were in place. He had been ejected from a game the night before, the Celtics were in town, pride and manhood were at stake and those all added up to vintage Barkley.
The Philly Fridge dutifully produced. He had 37 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and -- are you sitting down? -- only one foul (an offensive one at that) as the Sixers outlasted the Celtics, 116-110.
There were few complaints from the Boston locker room after this one, even though the defeat snapped an eight-game winning streak. The Celtics had rebounded from a sluggish first half and the game was tied, 96-96, with 6:32 left. On the road, against a quality team, what more could Chris Ford want?
How about some kryptonite to stop Barkley? Fittingly, Sir Charles chose that moment to break the tie for the last time with a dunk over approximately 17 Celtics. Then, he overpowered Larry Bird en route to a fast-break layup, leaving No. 33 on the floor.
The Celtics got within 2 (100-98) on a Reggie Lewis jumper, but Barkley fed Ron Anderson for a jumper and then finished off an 8-2 run in spectacular fashion with a driving reverse layup that hung on the rim long enough to elicit the maximum response from the first sellout crowd this season at the Spectrum.
The hoop made it 104-98 and the Celtics never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. In the closing minutes, Mike Gminski had two of his seven blocked shots (Manute Bol must be teaching the G-Man something) and Rickey Green (19 points) drove a couple of stakes through the Celtics with 7 points.
Ordinarily, it would be time now to turn to Barkley for some inflammatory trash, which he unfailingly delivers after such an epic performance. But the Sixers' quote machine is set on B-O-R-I-N-G until further notice (probably after Christmas) because he is upset with the local media for writing what he considered to be "bleep, bleep."
He may be jeopardizing his position on the All-Interview team, but he says now all cares about is "playing hard and making a lot of money." So what were his thoughts on this first clash between the Atlantic Division's Athens and Sparta?
"It was a good game between two good teams. We're trying to catch them so it was a good win. Have a happy holiday season," Barkley said.
Said Bird, "This was a big game and he was at home and you expect a great player to step forward. He dominated the game."
Barkley's underlings weren't too shabby, either. Hersey Hawkins had 24 and Anderson added 19. Kevin McHale led the Celtics with 29 and Robert Parish came up big (22 points, 15 rebounds), as Ford used only seven players in attempt to keep the streak going.
"You can't be totally disappointed," Ford said. "We came back. At 96-96, we had a chance to win the game. Then, they got some loose balls and made things happen and we didn't."
Ford had anticipated Barkley coming out strong. The Fridge had been given the heave-ho the night before in a tight game in Detroit for elbowing Dennis Rodman.
"Your only hope is that he has a bad game," Ford said. "But I knew he would come out strong and take it to us."
Barkley and Hawkins both were on target early as the Sixers built a 12-point lead. It was 58-48 at the half, but the Celtics opened the third with a 10-0 run to tie the game, as Lewis (18) took his turn and torched Hawkins with impunity.
Philly recovered to lead, 87-83, after three and pulled ahead by 7. But the Celtics managed to forge one final tie when, trailing, 96-91, Bird (15 points on 6-for-17, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) nailed a trey and Brian Shaw (20 points) scored on the break.
The Sixers were 2 for 10 in the quarter at that time and the Celtics actually missed a chance to take the lead. Then it was Barkley Time. Again.
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
Too much Charles.
The Celtics , 76ers and anyone else remotely associated with the NBA could have predicted a Charles Barkley explosion last night.
All the elements were in place. He had been ejected from a game the night before, the Celtics were in town, pride and manhood were at stake and those all added up to vintage Barkley.
The Philly Fridge dutifully produced. He had 37 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and -- are you sitting down? -- only one foul (an offensive one at that) as the Sixers outlasted the Celtics, 116-110.
There were few complaints from the Boston locker room after this one, even though the defeat snapped an eight-game winning streak. The Celtics had rebounded from a sluggish first half and the game was tied, 96-96, with 6:32 left. On the road, against a quality team, what more could Chris Ford want?
How about some kryptonite to stop Barkley? Fittingly, Sir Charles chose that moment to break the tie for the last time with a dunk over approximately 17 Celtics. Then, he overpowered Larry Bird en route to a fast-break layup, leaving No. 33 on the floor.
The Celtics got within 2 (100-98) on a Reggie Lewis jumper, but Barkley fed Ron Anderson for a jumper and then finished off an 8-2 run in spectacular fashion with a driving reverse layup that hung on the rim long enough to elicit the maximum response from the first sellout crowd this season at the Spectrum.
The hoop made it 104-98 and the Celtics never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. In the closing minutes, Mike Gminski had two of his seven blocked shots (Manute Bol must be teaching the G-Man something) and Rickey Green (19 points) drove a couple of stakes through the Celtics with 7 points.
Ordinarily, it would be time now to turn to Barkley for some inflammatory trash, which he unfailingly delivers after such an epic performance. But the Sixers' quote machine is set on B-O-R-I-N-G until further notice (probably after Christmas) because he is upset with the local media for writing what he considered to be "bleep, bleep."
He may be jeopardizing his position on the All-Interview team, but he says now all cares about is "playing hard and making a lot of money." So what were his thoughts on this first clash between the Atlantic Division's Athens and Sparta?
"It was a good game between two good teams. We're trying to catch them so it was a good win. Have a happy holiday season," Barkley said.
Said Bird, "This was a big game and he was at home and you expect a great player to step forward. He dominated the game."
Barkley's underlings weren't too shabby, either. Hersey Hawkins had 24 and Anderson added 19. Kevin McHale led the Celtics with 29 and Robert Parish came up big (22 points, 15 rebounds), as Ford used only seven players in attempt to keep the streak going.
"You can't be totally disappointed," Ford said. "We came back. At 96-96, we had a chance to win the game. Then, they got some loose balls and made things happen and we didn't."
Ford had anticipated Barkley coming out strong. The Fridge had been given the heave-ho the night before in a tight game in Detroit for elbowing Dennis Rodman.
"Your only hope is that he has a bad game," Ford said. "But I knew he would come out strong and take it to us."
Barkley and Hawkins both were on target early as the Sixers built a 12-point lead. It was 58-48 at the half, but the Celtics opened the third with a 10-0 run to tie the game, as Lewis (18) took his turn and torched Hawkins with impunity.
Philly recovered to lead, 87-83, after three and pulled ahead by 7. But the Celtics managed to forge one final tie when, trailing, 96-91, Bird (15 points on 6-for-17, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) nailed a trey and Brian Shaw (20 points) scored on the break.
The Sixers were 2 for 10 in the quarter at that time and the Celtics actually missed a chance to take the lead. Then it was Barkley Time. Again.
3.12.2009
Celtics Defense on the Decline
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Whatever happened to the Celtics' team defense? After getting off to a sensational defensive start, the Celtics almost have become a neo-Denver, defeating most foes by the simple expedient of scoring more points.
Consider that in their first 24 games, the Celtics were the league's leading defensive team on the basis of fewest points allowed per game. Only 10 of their first 24 foes managed to crack 100 points, and only three of those teams exceeded 103 points. Only two scored more than 106.
But in the games prior to their last encounter, the Celtics had kept only three teams under 100. Five foes had scored more than 120 (one, Philadelphia, doing it in overtime) and one (Kansas City, also in OT) had scored 119. No one seems to have any explanation.
Whatever happened to the Celtics' team defense? After getting off to a sensational defensive start, the Celtics almost have become a neo-Denver, defeating most foes by the simple expedient of scoring more points.
Consider that in their first 24 games, the Celtics were the league's leading defensive team on the basis of fewest points allowed per game. Only 10 of their first 24 foes managed to crack 100 points, and only three of those teams exceeded 103 points. Only two scored more than 106.
But in the games prior to their last encounter, the Celtics had kept only three teams under 100. Five foes had scored more than 120 (one, Philadelphia, doing it in overtime) and one (Kansas City, also in OT) had scored 119. No one seems to have any explanation.
Tony Allen Worried About Role Upon Return
Tony Allen hopes to make it back from thumb surgery for the last three or four games before the playoffs, but he realizes that Stephon Marbury may take his minutes even if he does. "If that happens," Allen said, "I can't do nothing about that. It will be a coach's decision." "I didn't play much last year. I was playing behind James Posey. This year is much different." But the result may be the same. Allen may spend most of the playoffs on the bench."Even talking about it now, it's frustrating," Allen said.
++
Without James Posey on the roster, I don't see how Doc doesn't use a healthy Tony Allen more often in the playoffs this year than he did last year. TA basically didn't play at all in last year's playoffs. I mean, who's gonna come off the bench to guard taller wing players like Joe Johnson, Tayshaun Prince, and LeBron James?
++
Without James Posey on the roster, I don't see how Doc doesn't use a healthy Tony Allen more often in the playoffs this year than he did last year. TA basically didn't play at all in last year's playoffs. I mean, who's gonna come off the bench to guard taller wing players like Joe Johnson, Tayshaun Prince, and LeBron James?
Costly Loss?
"It's a gutsy win for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. And a costly loss for the defending NBA champions, who fell two games behind Cleveland in the race for the Eastern Conference's best record.
--ESPN
Ah, no. A costly loss is when the green lose a player to injury. At this point a loss is a loss. The green know they're gonna be playing lots-0-games on the road in the playoffs. They also know that playoff preparation won't really begin until KG and Rondo are back on the court, and Stephon Marbury has scraped the rust off.
Any PT that Steph gets is good PT. Leon Powe is showing he can be a force when given the chance. Ray Allen remains sharp from the field. Doc won't have much time to bring all of the parts together. But once KG gets healthy, I expect Doc, the Big 3, and Rajon to put this team on an accelerated chemistry and adjustments curve. Hopefully, the full team can play three to five regular season games together and use the first round to sharpen the saw.
--ESPN
Ah, no. A costly loss is when the green lose a player to injury. At this point a loss is a loss. The green know they're gonna be playing lots-0-games on the road in the playoffs. They also know that playoff preparation won't really begin until KG and Rondo are back on the court, and Stephon Marbury has scraped the rust off.
Any PT that Steph gets is good PT. Leon Powe is showing he can be a force when given the chance. Ray Allen remains sharp from the field. Doc won't have much time to bring all of the parts together. But once KG gets healthy, I expect Doc, the Big 3, and Rajon to put this team on an accelerated chemistry and adjustments curve. Hopefully, the full team can play three to five regular season games together and use the first round to sharpen the saw.
3.11.2009
Pistons with Iverson--Bad; Pistons without Iverson--Good; Iverson the Difference?
The Detroit Pistons are now 5-1 since Allen Iverson went down with a back injury, including two wins over Orlando, and one win over Boston, a team that lost to Orlando on Sunday. Before the injury to Iverson, the Pistons had lost 8 in a row, 10 of 12, and were in danger of not making the playoffs for the first time in recent memory.
Was getting rid of Iverson and his failure to grasp the team concept really the difference?
The Detroit Free Press weighs in:
The stock market continues its southward spiral.
Blame Allen Iverson.
The Red Wings' defensive erosion continues with alarming regularity.
That's A.I.'s fault, too.
There are huge sinkholes erupting all over Detroit streets.
Yup. You got it. AI.
What's next?
It's no wonder the man's back is ailing. Lugging around all the public culpability for the Pistons' mediocrity can't be easy. He'll carry the bull's-eye on his back for his remaining days in Detroit because the Pistons' recent rise from the ashes fuels the justifications of those still steadfastly against The Trade. They can wag their tongues, point their fingers and cry, "Told you so."
See link above for rest of article
Was getting rid of Iverson and his failure to grasp the team concept really the difference?
The Detroit Free Press weighs in:
The stock market continues its southward spiral.
Blame Allen Iverson.
The Red Wings' defensive erosion continues with alarming regularity.
That's A.I.'s fault, too.
There are huge sinkholes erupting all over Detroit streets.
Yup. You got it. AI.
What's next?
It's no wonder the man's back is ailing. Lugging around all the public culpability for the Pistons' mediocrity can't be easy. He'll carry the bull's-eye on his back for his remaining days in Detroit because the Pistons' recent rise from the ashes fuels the justifications of those still steadfastly against The Trade. They can wag their tongues, point their fingers and cry, "Told you so."
See link above for rest of article
Marbury: Scoring Won't Be a Problem
Some observers wonder how Marbury will assimilate into a subservient role within the Celtics offense. But if anything, he's been too unselfish. In a 105-94 win over the Cavaliers on Friday, he passed to reserve center Mikki Moore three times on one possession. Members of the Celtics bench stood and screamed for Marbury to shoot the ball. "I know I need to start taking open shots," Marbury says. "Once I start getting into my flow, it should be easy to score on this team. With so many good players, you get a lot of open looks. I'm not used to that."
--USA Today
--USA Today
Starbury Enjoying the Culture
"I love the culture here. They're into the game. That's it. They're not into the drama."
--Stephon Marbury
The great part about this quote is the author's use of the word "here" to create an intended or unintended ambiguity. Was he talking about the coach? His staff? The team? The fans? The media?
I noted earlier that the Herald made a pathetic attempt at stirring up a "quarterback controversy" soon after Marbury arrived. But that was unusual. We don't do drama here. We do essentials--winning and losing--and if your essentials are controversial, then hopefully you get the boot.
--Stephon Marbury
The great part about this quote is the author's use of the word "here" to create an intended or unintended ambiguity. Was he talking about the coach? His staff? The team? The fans? The media?
I noted earlier that the Herald made a pathetic attempt at stirring up a "quarterback controversy" soon after Marbury arrived. But that was unusual. We don't do drama here. We do essentials--winning and losing--and if your essentials are controversial, then hopefully you get the boot.
The Black Hole on Hair Cuts
``Boys` Regular?`` McHale told the barber.
``Boys` Regular?`` she asked?
``Hey, why should I spend $50 when it`s just gonna grow back?`` McHale countered. ``That`s like using a Mercedes to mow your grass. Use a Briggs & Stratton, and then take yourself out to dinner with the money you save.``
``Boys` Regular?`` she asked?
``Hey, why should I spend $50 when it`s just gonna grow back?`` McHale countered. ``That`s like using a Mercedes to mow your grass. Use a Briggs & Stratton, and then take yourself out to dinner with the money you save.``
Dave Cowens Didn't Like Flopping
Cowens thought a player who flopped to the court to draw a charge was the worst kind of cheat. So he once flattened Houston Rockets guard Mike Newlin in a violent but poignant demonstration. Newlin was a master of the flop. Twice in a game in 1976, Newlin drew charges on Cowens this way. So later in the game, an irate Cowens sprinted at Newlin, slamming him blind-side with both forearms and splattering Newlin along the floor.
``Now that's a FU**ING foul!'' Cowens told referee Bill Jones.
Cowens was branded a savage for that stunt, so he followed it up with a lengthy letter to the editor in the Boston Globe. Cowens wrote that ``fraudulent, deceiving and flagrant acts of pretending to be fouled when little or no contact is made is just as unsportsmanlike as knocking a player to the floor. ... This, in plain words, is what I call `cheating.'" Cowens forwarded copies of the letter to the NBA's supervisor of officials and Newlin. Newlin already got the message; he said Cowens' body-block still stung a month later.
Link
``Now that's a FU**ING foul!'' Cowens told referee Bill Jones.
Cowens was branded a savage for that stunt, so he followed it up with a lengthy letter to the editor in the Boston Globe. Cowens wrote that ``fraudulent, deceiving and flagrant acts of pretending to be fouled when little or no contact is made is just as unsportsmanlike as knocking a player to the floor. ... This, in plain words, is what I call `cheating.'" Cowens forwarded copies of the letter to the NBA's supervisor of officials and Newlin. Newlin already got the message; he said Cowens' body-block still stung a month later.
Link
Forbes Named McHale Best GM in All of Sports
3/2/07
Forbes.com
Link
The Timberwolves' McHale has been harshly criticized in the press for not giving superstar Kevin Garnett the supporting cast to win a championship. But McHale has guided the Timberwolves to eight playoff berths and a .539 regular season winning percentage--more than double his predecessor’s .244. Winning improvement under McHale has been so great that it offset a 19% rise in salary against the NBA's median payroll during his 11 years as GM.
Forbes.com
Link
The Timberwolves' McHale has been harshly criticized in the press for not giving superstar Kevin Garnett the supporting cast to win a championship. But McHale has guided the Timberwolves to eight playoff berths and a .539 regular season winning percentage--more than double his predecessor’s .244. Winning improvement under McHale has been so great that it offset a 19% rise in salary against the NBA's median payroll during his 11 years as GM.
Przybilla to the Purple: You Suck
Ok. He didn't say that. But what he did say was still pretty good:
"It was the Lakers," Blazers center Joel Przybilla said. "And we beat the (snot) out of them. And you can print that. In bold. And big letters." (link)
By the time the smoke cleared, the Blazers emerged with their second annihilation of a Western Conference power this month. On March 1, the Blazers had leads as large as 29 against San Antonio before settling for an 18-point victory. Earlier in the year they manhandled the Boston Celtics.
Can it be? Can the Western Conference possibly boast multiple teams for the Lakers to fear come playoff time? With my luck, the Spurs and Blazers will play in round 2, instead of the Lakers having to play both teams, one in round 2 and one in the WCFs.
"It was the Lakers," Blazers center Joel Przybilla said. "And we beat the (snot) out of them. And you can print that. In bold. And big letters." (link)
By the time the smoke cleared, the Blazers emerged with their second annihilation of a Western Conference power this month. On March 1, the Blazers had leads as large as 29 against San Antonio before settling for an 18-point victory. Earlier in the year they manhandled the Boston Celtics.
Can it be? Can the Western Conference possibly boast multiple teams for the Lakers to fear come playoff time? With my luck, the Spurs and Blazers will play in round 2, instead of the Lakers having to play both teams, one in round 2 and one in the WCFs.
Tiny, Bird, and Fitch are All-Stars
1981-82 Boston Celtics
Please don't make a fuss about them.
Bill Fitch and Larry Bird share at least one important trait: Neither wants to be the center of attention. Yes, they are two of the chief architects of the Celtics ' success, and they enjoy the glory those accomplishments have reaped - on a team basis. But neither is interested in taking individual bows.
Consider two recent occurrences.
Fitch has earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars in next Sunday's NBA All-Star game at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. After 11 1/2 years as an NBA coach, he finally achieved that distinction by guiding the Celtics to the best record in the conference (28-9) by yesterday's cutoff date.
"I really appreciate the honor," he said on the flight home following Boston's fifth triumph in six games, a 128-120 decision over the Pistons in Pontiac, Mich., Saturday. "And I'm looking forward to the game. For those three days (the All-Star break), I'll work as hard as I know how. It's a fun game for the players and the fans."
But he wasn't dwelling on his personal achievement.
"I'm really more concerned with our own team," he said. "Some people are acting like the season is over. We've only played half our games. We've been playing pretty well lately, even though we are out of sync with (Cedric) Maxwell out. I just hope we can continue. Guys can pick up for a game or two when someone is hurt. But I don't know anybody who doesn't think we're a better team with 12 healthy players than we are with 11."
Not surprisingly, Bird also will be spending next Sunday at the Meadowlands. Yesterday he was named a starting forward on the Eastern squad, joining teammate Tiny Archibald, who'll start in the East backcourt. Bird turned in a typical All-Star performance Saturday night when he emerged from a seven-game Silverdome shooting slump (44 for 117) by hitting 15 of 25 shots from the floor. And his faulty hearing helped win the game. With 6:31 left, Fitch called for Gerry Henderson to replace Archibald in the backcourt. But Bird thought the coach had called his number. He raced onto the court and promptly helped turn a 106-105 lead into a comfortable cushion.
Bird's line read: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals. But he didn't want the credit focused on him. After all, Robert Parish (25 points, 18 rebounds), Archibald (22 points) and Kevin McHale (21) had contributed significantly too.
"I'm not a stat man," said Bird. "I learned from playing with Dave Cowens that it's the way you play when you have to play that is important, not statistics. You have to do what you can when you're in a game and not worry about it. If your shot is not going down, you do the other things necessary to win. I was helped early in the game by hitting a few shots. When we got behind, I started shooting more, and it loosened things up inside. We played good defense and cut the lead down just the way you're supposed to do - two points at a time."
And what about that little coaching decision he made in the final minutes? How was it that he, not Henderson, popped up when Fitch called out, "Gerry"?
"Well, I did think he was calling for me," said Bird with a grin. "I was tired of sitting on the bench and I knew it was about time he was going to put me back in there. The first time I realized different was when I was in the shower and the guys started to kid me about putting myself into games."
It was a logical assumption, because Bird indeed is playing a more prominent role in the Celtics' offense. By necessity. With opponents concentrating on stopping the Celtics' strong inside game, Fitch has been forced to rely more on outside shooting. Bird has been on a tear from outside and is now averaging 23.1 points a game.
It is perfectly normal, contends Fitch, for teams to make such adjustments during an 82-game season.
"When you're a defending champion like we are," he said, "You have to be up every night for a game. It is a game of peaks and valleys, and you can't be expected to be too high or too low every night. But you must establish a level of play and try to work together as a team. Sometimes, however, you have problems, and that's when your superstars like the Birds, Parishes and Archibalds have to come to the front. We're a little out of sync with Max out. That's why other guys are stepping forward.
"The thing to keep in mind is that we're playing teams that are much better than they were the first time around. But we're also playing much better now than we were in December. Likewise, we're going to have to play better in February than we're playing in January. Larry is no different than anybody else on this team. What it all comes down to is what does it take to get the W.' That's where it's at."
Please don't make a fuss about them.
Bill Fitch and Larry Bird share at least one important trait: Neither wants to be the center of attention. Yes, they are two of the chief architects of the Celtics ' success, and they enjoy the glory those accomplishments have reaped - on a team basis. But neither is interested in taking individual bows.
Consider two recent occurrences.
Fitch has earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars in next Sunday's NBA All-Star game at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. After 11 1/2 years as an NBA coach, he finally achieved that distinction by guiding the Celtics to the best record in the conference (28-9) by yesterday's cutoff date.
"I really appreciate the honor," he said on the flight home following Boston's fifth triumph in six games, a 128-120 decision over the Pistons in Pontiac, Mich., Saturday. "And I'm looking forward to the game. For those three days (the All-Star break), I'll work as hard as I know how. It's a fun game for the players and the fans."
But he wasn't dwelling on his personal achievement.
"I'm really more concerned with our own team," he said. "Some people are acting like the season is over. We've only played half our games. We've been playing pretty well lately, even though we are out of sync with (Cedric) Maxwell out. I just hope we can continue. Guys can pick up for a game or two when someone is hurt. But I don't know anybody who doesn't think we're a better team with 12 healthy players than we are with 11."
Not surprisingly, Bird also will be spending next Sunday at the Meadowlands. Yesterday he was named a starting forward on the Eastern squad, joining teammate Tiny Archibald, who'll start in the East backcourt. Bird turned in a typical All-Star performance Saturday night when he emerged from a seven-game Silverdome shooting slump (44 for 117) by hitting 15 of 25 shots from the floor. And his faulty hearing helped win the game. With 6:31 left, Fitch called for Gerry Henderson to replace Archibald in the backcourt. But Bird thought the coach had called his number. He raced onto the court and promptly helped turn a 106-105 lead into a comfortable cushion.
Bird's line read: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals. But he didn't want the credit focused on him. After all, Robert Parish (25 points, 18 rebounds), Archibald (22 points) and Kevin McHale (21) had contributed significantly too.
"I'm not a stat man," said Bird. "I learned from playing with Dave Cowens that it's the way you play when you have to play that is important, not statistics. You have to do what you can when you're in a game and not worry about it. If your shot is not going down, you do the other things necessary to win. I was helped early in the game by hitting a few shots. When we got behind, I started shooting more, and it loosened things up inside. We played good defense and cut the lead down just the way you're supposed to do - two points at a time."
And what about that little coaching decision he made in the final minutes? How was it that he, not Henderson, popped up when Fitch called out, "Gerry"?
"Well, I did think he was calling for me," said Bird with a grin. "I was tired of sitting on the bench and I knew it was about time he was going to put me back in there. The first time I realized different was when I was in the shower and the guys started to kid me about putting myself into games."
It was a logical assumption, because Bird indeed is playing a more prominent role in the Celtics' offense. By necessity. With opponents concentrating on stopping the Celtics' strong inside game, Fitch has been forced to rely more on outside shooting. Bird has been on a tear from outside and is now averaging 23.1 points a game.
It is perfectly normal, contends Fitch, for teams to make such adjustments during an 82-game season.
"When you're a defending champion like we are," he said, "You have to be up every night for a game. It is a game of peaks and valleys, and you can't be expected to be too high or too low every night. But you must establish a level of play and try to work together as a team. Sometimes, however, you have problems, and that's when your superstars like the Birds, Parishes and Archibalds have to come to the front. We're a little out of sync with Max out. That's why other guys are stepping forward.
"The thing to keep in mind is that we're playing teams that are much better than they were the first time around. But we're also playing much better now than we were in December. Likewise, we're going to have to play better in February than we're playing in January. Larry is no different than anybody else on this team. What it all comes down to is what does it take to get the W.' That's where it's at."
3.10.2009
Tex Winter: Lakers Not as Good as Their Record
Tex Winter paused to gather his thoughts before offering his analysis of how the Lakers are playing. Winter, the Lakers ' basketball consultant, had come to watch them play the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, to see for himself in what direction they were headed.
The Lakers came in with the best record in the NBA, 50-12, but Winter still saw troubling signs. And that was before the Trail Blazers routed them, 111-94. "I feel like our record is a whole lot better than how we've played," Winter, who lives in Portland with his wife, Nancy, said before the game. "I don't think we're playing nearly as good as our record indicates."
Tex is thinking like a fan. Fans want everything to be perfect. They want to gift wrap the entire regular season and playoffs so that they can later pull it down from the shelf to admire. Look! 66-16! Look! 131-92! Look! A world championship!
But having lived through the 1980s, the NBA season isn't always neat and clean. The Lakers were rampaging their way to the 1988 championship when the wheels came off. They still managed to repeat, but they limped to the finish line.
As a basketball fan, I hear what Tex is saying. Everything is not perfect in La La Land. As a Laker hater though, I have to give them their props. They swept both the Celts and the Cavs this season. This tells me that they can rise to the occasion when they want to.
So let's see how they do in their next two games (at Houston, at San Antonio) before we downgrade the purple too far. San Antonio is a work in progress. Drew Gooden isn’t expected to play until next week. So if the Spurs can win without Gooden, all of a sudden that makes the playoffs a little more interesting, especially if the L’s meet the Blazers in round 2, as a prelude to meeting the Spurs in the WCFs.
The Lakers came in with the best record in the NBA, 50-12, but Winter still saw troubling signs. And that was before the Trail Blazers routed them, 111-94. "I feel like our record is a whole lot better than how we've played," Winter, who lives in Portland with his wife, Nancy, said before the game. "I don't think we're playing nearly as good as our record indicates."
Tex is thinking like a fan. Fans want everything to be perfect. They want to gift wrap the entire regular season and playoffs so that they can later pull it down from the shelf to admire. Look! 66-16! Look! 131-92! Look! A world championship!
But having lived through the 1980s, the NBA season isn't always neat and clean. The Lakers were rampaging their way to the 1988 championship when the wheels came off. They still managed to repeat, but they limped to the finish line.
As a basketball fan, I hear what Tex is saying. Everything is not perfect in La La Land. As a Laker hater though, I have to give them their props. They swept both the Celts and the Cavs this season. This tells me that they can rise to the occasion when they want to.
So let's see how they do in their next two games (at Houston, at San Antonio) before we downgrade the purple too far. San Antonio is a work in progress. Drew Gooden isn’t expected to play until next week. So if the Spurs can win without Gooden, all of a sudden that makes the playoffs a little more interesting, especially if the L’s meet the Blazers in round 2, as a prelude to meeting the Spurs in the WCFs.
The Mistress Tweaks Odom
Phil Jackzen had this to say about Lamar Odom's recent string of up-and-down play, which reached four-staight underwhelming performances last night:
"Well, you know, Lamar, more than anything else, is affected by the astrological sequences. I know Venus went into retrograde the other day, so that could have affected him. All of a sudden he started shooting his free throws with a dip and a bend. It's just one of those things where you say, 'Where did that come from?"'
--LA Daily News
The Zen Mistress was joking. Sort of.
"Well, you know, Lamar, more than anything else, is affected by the astrological sequences. I know Venus went into retrograde the other day, so that could have affected him. All of a sudden he started shooting his free throws with a dip and a bend. It's just one of those things where you say, 'Where did that come from?"'
--LA Daily News
The Zen Mistress was joking. Sort of.
Celtics Making Heisler Uncomfortable
We don't know who's best but we know who's toughest, or here's something to remember if that day comes that the Lakers face the Celtics this spring: The Celtics did it without Kevin Garnett, and with Glen (Big Baby) Davis, booted early in the second half, still combining for 30 points with Leon Powe, making 14 of 19 shots.
If the Lakers haven't figured it out from last spring, when they were favored, to this spring, when they'd be bigger favorites with Andrew Bynum: The Celtics are either better than anyone realizes, or no one rises to the occasion and raises their game the way they do. In either case, someone will have to beat them. They're not going away.
--Mark Heisler
You can almost see Mr. Heisler squirming at his desk. He clearly doesn't get it. He predicted a Laker win last June, and told everyone that the Celtics' stunk in December, notwithstanding their 27-2 record. But they keep winning big games.
Go figger.
All he really needs to do is talk to Jerry West about the 1968-69 Lakers. The Purple had more talent on paper than the Celtics. But somehow the Lakers didn't win when it counted.
Mindboggling, huh?
If the Lakers haven't figured it out from last spring, when they were favored, to this spring, when they'd be bigger favorites with Andrew Bynum: The Celtics are either better than anyone realizes, or no one rises to the occasion and raises their game the way they do. In either case, someone will have to beat them. They're not going away.
--Mark Heisler
You can almost see Mr. Heisler squirming at his desk. He clearly doesn't get it. He predicted a Laker win last June, and told everyone that the Celtics' stunk in December, notwithstanding their 27-2 record. But they keep winning big games.
Go figger.
All he really needs to do is talk to Jerry West about the 1968-69 Lakers. The Purple had more talent on paper than the Celtics. But somehow the Lakers didn't win when it counted.
Mindboggling, huh?
Lakers' Defense Lacking
LA Times
Sixty-two games into the regular season and the Lakers still have defensive issues. They will get back to work today in an attempt to shore up a defense that gives up 100.4 points per game, ranking 13th in the NBA before Saturday night's games. With road games this week against Portland, Houston and San Antonio, Jackson said the Lakers will work on their rotations and double teams in the post.
Sixty-two games into the regular season and the Lakers still have defensive issues. They will get back to work today in an attempt to shore up a defense that gives up 100.4 points per game, ranking 13th in the NBA before Saturday night's games. With road games this week against Portland, Houston and San Antonio, Jackson said the Lakers will work on their rotations and double teams in the post.
Odom in a Tailspin
LA Times
For the third consecutive game, Lamar Odom was underwhelming.
The two points and two rebounds Odom delivered Friday night against Minnesota came on the heels of two points and 13 rebounds against Memphis and four points and six rebounds against Phoenix. He missed 11 of 15 shots in the three games.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson had a succinct answer when asked whether he was concerned about Odom's decline: "Yes."
Jackson noticed Odom changed his free-throw approach against Minnesota, and that led to a conversation, with Jackson saying Odom may have "got up on the wrong side of the bed or something happened to him.
"We know he can have little sessions of doubt or doldrums or whatever. He'll get it back."
Odom tinkered with his free-throw shooting, saying he tried to "baby the basketball a little bit," which caused him to miss all four attempts.
The Lakers didn't practice Saturday, but Odom's plan was to head to the team's practice facility that night to work on his free throws.
His game had flourished after center Andrew Bynum went down because of a knee injury Jan. 31, Odom's play raising eyebrows over a 14-game stretch. He averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting, and 12.8 rebounds. He had a string of four consecutive games in which he increased his rebounding total, from 17 to 18 to 19 to 20.
Now Odom is in a mini-tailspin, and his playing time has dwindled to 26 minutes over the last three games versus 35.9 during his upswing.
For the third consecutive game, Lamar Odom was underwhelming.
The two points and two rebounds Odom delivered Friday night against Minnesota came on the heels of two points and 13 rebounds against Memphis and four points and six rebounds against Phoenix. He missed 11 of 15 shots in the three games.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson had a succinct answer when asked whether he was concerned about Odom's decline: "Yes."
Jackson noticed Odom changed his free-throw approach against Minnesota, and that led to a conversation, with Jackson saying Odom may have "got up on the wrong side of the bed or something happened to him.
"We know he can have little sessions of doubt or doldrums or whatever. He'll get it back."
Odom tinkered with his free-throw shooting, saying he tried to "baby the basketball a little bit," which caused him to miss all four attempts.
The Lakers didn't practice Saturday, but Odom's plan was to head to the team's practice facility that night to work on his free throws.
His game had flourished after center Andrew Bynum went down because of a knee injury Jan. 31, Odom's play raising eyebrows over a 14-game stretch. He averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting, and 12.8 rebounds. He had a string of four consecutive games in which he increased his rebounding total, from 17 to 18 to 19 to 20.
Now Odom is in a mini-tailspin, and his playing time has dwindled to 26 minutes over the last three games versus 35.9 during his upswing.
The Next Head Coach of the Boston Celtics?
Ray Allen will one day be a head coach in the NBA. He's got all the earmarks. He's a consummate professional. He's got encyclopedic knowledge of the game. Players and coaches around the league respect him and respect what he's done. Most importantly, he strives for excellence and is driven to win, and expects the same from his teammates.If he re-ups after next summer, the end of his next contract might then coincide with the end of the Big Three Era in Boston, at which time Doc Rivers may also think about changing career paths.
Giving Ray Allen a shot at replacing Doc wouldn't be the worst thing that Danny could do.
Portland Tied for 4th Place in the West
Wouldn't that be sweet if the Fakers had to match up against the Trailblazers in the second round? Maybe a little deja vu from the 1986 WCFs, only one round earlier.
What's this about the Celtics being a Dirty Team?
The Lakers make the Green look like Good Samaritans.
Ariza tries to decapitate Rudy Fernandez.
Odom Gets Ugly on Brandon Roy
Odom, again, this Time Forgetting What Sport He's Playing
And Let's Not Forget
Ariza tries to decapitate Rudy Fernandez.
Odom Gets Ugly on Brandon Roy
Odom, again, this Time Forgetting What Sport He's Playing
And Let's Not Forget
Lakers Continue 4-Year Losing Streak at Portland
Lakers lose by 17, but trailed by as many as 30. Kobe was one shy of his now customary 30 hoists, making 11.
Link
Link
3.09.2009
Assembling the Parts
At some point you gotta wonder when Doc will have time to assemble all of the broken parts. The first round of the playoffs will sort of be like exhibition season, with everyone on the Celtics playing together for the first time in a long time. Ordinarily, I'd like to say the rest of the schedule is pretty kind to the green. But at this point, the only productive things I see happening any time soon are getting PT for Mikki and Steph. I guess they call it a "second season" for a reason.
| March | Opponent | Time | Local TV | Nat TV | Radio |
| Wed 11 | @ Miami | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Fri 13 | vs Memphis  | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Sun 15 | @ Milwaukee | 1:00pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Tue 17 | @ Chicago | 8:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Wed 18 | vs Miami | 7:00pm | CSNHD |  | WEEI |
| Fri 20 | @ San Antonio | 8:30pm | CSNHD |  | WEEI |
| Sat 21 | @ Memphis | 8:00pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Mon 23 | vs LA Clippers | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Wed 25 | @ Orlando | 8:00pm | CSNHD | | WEEI |
| Fri 27 | @ Atlanta | 7:30pm | CSNHD | | WEEI |
| Sun 29 | vs Oklahoma City | 7:00pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| April | Opponent | Time | Local TV | Nat TV | Radio |
| Wed 01 | vs Charlotte | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Fri 03 | vs Atlanta | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Wed 08 | vs New Jersey | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Fri 10 | vs Miami | 7:30pm | CSNHD | WEEI | |
| Sun 12 | @ Cleveland | 3:30pm |  | WEEI | |
| Tue 14 | @ Philadelphia | 8:00pm | CSNHD |  | WEEI |
| Wed 15 | vs Washington | 8:00pm | CSNHD | WEEI |
Bird Eclipses 20,000
1990-91 Boston Celtics
So how much was it really, 6 or 12?
Larry Bird went into last night's game needing one of the above to reach 20,000 points. The dispute arises when Bird's 6 points from Wednesday's slip-out against Atlanta are factored into the situation.
The Celtics maintained Bird needed 12 points to reach 20,000. That is because all statistics from the Atlanta game are not included until the game is completed.
Bird, however, felt he needed only 6 points to reach 20,000. He figured the 6 he scored against Atlanta are being held in hoop lay-away, frozen until the game is finished on Dec. 23. So he had 6, he just had them in escrow.
For the record, Bird picked up his sixth point last night with 2:54 left in the first quarter on a fallaway jumper. By the Celtics' standard, No. 33 reached the plateau with 8:19 left in the third, when he scored point Nos. 12 & 13 off a foul-line jumper.
"Suppose I scored 6 points and then got hurt," Bird conjectured, "and I missed a lot of games. Then when the game comes up the rescheduled Atlanta game, I get the other 6 automatically. That gives me 12, right?"
Sound convincing? The Celtics weren't budging. They said 12 and the Spalding folks said 12, too. But Bird figured he'd have 20,006 by then.
So how much was it really, 6 or 12?
Larry Bird went into last night's game needing one of the above to reach 20,000 points. The dispute arises when Bird's 6 points from Wednesday's slip-out against Atlanta are factored into the situation.
The Celtics maintained Bird needed 12 points to reach 20,000. That is because all statistics from the Atlanta game are not included until the game is completed.
Bird, however, felt he needed only 6 points to reach 20,000. He figured the 6 he scored against Atlanta are being held in hoop lay-away, frozen until the game is finished on Dec. 23. So he had 6, he just had them in escrow.
For the record, Bird picked up his sixth point last night with 2:54 left in the first quarter on a fallaway jumper. By the Celtics' standard, No. 33 reached the plateau with 8:19 left in the third, when he scored point Nos. 12 & 13 off a foul-line jumper.
"Suppose I scored 6 points and then got hurt," Bird conjectured, "and I missed a lot of games. Then when the game comes up the rescheduled Atlanta game, I get the other 6 automatically. That gives me 12, right?"
Sound convincing? The Celtics weren't budging. They said 12 and the Spalding folks said 12, too. But Bird figured he'd have 20,006 by then.
Celtics Shut Down the King (Bernard)
Green Improves to 12-2
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
In the final accounting, Bernard King led the Bullets with 22 points in last night's 123-95 loss to the Celtics.
He made 9 of 23 shots in doing it. Not great, but certainly not as brutal as the 4-for-21 line he turned in last time against the Green.
That was only half of it, though. King, who dressed and left quickly after the game, needed an 8-for-14 second-half effort to pull up to those numbers. The first half: 1 for 9 when the Celtics were ragged offensively themselves. Chalk one up to the Celtics' help defense.
"He was struggling, and I thought he needed to pick himself up," said Bullets coach Wes Unseld. "But we needed to help get him going, to set some picks."
The Bullets talked at halftime. King scored their first two baskets of the third period and had 12 points in the quarter, but by then, the Celtics had it going themselves.
"They were shading him, double-teaming him," Unseld said. "And Robert Parish would leave to go over."
Parish blocked a King shot in the first period, Reggie Lewis one in the second and Kevin McHale and Larry Bird had their turns in the third.
"We did a great job on him," Celtics coach Chris Ford said. "Kevin Gamble and Reggie would come together and switch and try to deny him the ball. Unfortunately, Kevin McHale lit a fire under him in the second half."
Ford could afford to smile at that point.
The Celtics' ability to shut down King speaks for the team's defense in general, Ford said.
"We're getting down and protecting one another," he said. "And forcing teams to shoot from the perimeter. On the whole, we're doing a great job of making teams shoot poorly." We've been really concentrating on shutting people down."
The Bullets shot 41.4 percent for the game. The fact they rely so much on King -- his 29.8 points a game are nearly double Harvey Grant's 15.8 -- didn't hurt the Celtics, Ford said.
"If it's one guy you need to concentrate on, it makes it that much easier."
1990-91 Boston Celtics
Remembering the 29-5 Start
In the final accounting, Bernard King led the Bullets with 22 points in last night's 123-95 loss to the Celtics.
He made 9 of 23 shots in doing it. Not great, but certainly not as brutal as the 4-for-21 line he turned in last time against the Green.
That was only half of it, though. King, who dressed and left quickly after the game, needed an 8-for-14 second-half effort to pull up to those numbers. The first half: 1 for 9 when the Celtics were ragged offensively themselves. Chalk one up to the Celtics' help defense.
"He was struggling, and I thought he needed to pick himself up," said Bullets coach Wes Unseld. "But we needed to help get him going, to set some picks."
The Bullets talked at halftime. King scored their first two baskets of the third period and had 12 points in the quarter, but by then, the Celtics had it going themselves.
"They were shading him, double-teaming him," Unseld said. "And Robert Parish would leave to go over."
Parish blocked a King shot in the first period, Reggie Lewis one in the second and Kevin McHale and Larry Bird had their turns in the third.
"We did a great job on him," Celtics coach Chris Ford said. "Kevin Gamble and Reggie would come together and switch and try to deny him the ball. Unfortunately, Kevin McHale lit a fire under him in the second half."
Ford could afford to smile at that point.
The Celtics' ability to shut down King speaks for the team's defense in general, Ford said.
"We're getting down and protecting one another," he said. "And forcing teams to shoot from the perimeter. On the whole, we're doing a great job of making teams shoot poorly." We've been really concentrating on shutting people down."
The Bullets shot 41.4 percent for the game. The fact they rely so much on King -- his 29.8 points a game are nearly double Harvey Grant's 15.8 -- didn't hurt the Celtics, Ford said.
"If it's one guy you need to concentrate on, it makes it that much easier."
3.08.2009
Remember the 1974 Finals
My new rallying cry for the 2009 Boston Celtics is "Remember the 1974 Finals." The road team won five games, including the last four. That series shows you how fast home-court advantage can change hands. It also casts doubt on the value of killing yourself during the regular season to get home court in the first place. Why run yourself into the ground for five months during the regular season, just to lose home court in one game during the playoffs? Let's be the team that enters the playoffs healthy and steals home court from the other team.
4/28/1974 BOS at Milwaukee Bucks 95 - 83 1 - 0
4/30/1974 BOS at Milwaukee Bucks 96 - 105 1 - 1
5/3/1974 BOS Milwaukee Bucks 95 - 83 2 - 1
5/5/1974 BOS Milwaukee Bucks 89 - 97 2 - 2
5/7/1974 BOS at Milwaukee Bucks 96 - 87 3 - 2
5/10/1974 BOS Milwaukee Bucks 101 - 102 3 - 3
5/12/1974 BOS at Milwaukee Bucks 102 - 87 4 - 3
Celts -4.5
Vegas has the Celts but you have to give up four and a half points. Before I looked, I would have handicapped the game at Celts -3.5. I'm on a roll. I've made predictions in three games this year, and got them all wrong. I had the C's -1 against the Ls twice. I had the Cavs -3 on Friday. Good thing I'm not betting actual coin.
George Karl: Perk Should be All-Defense
Link
Damn tootin'. There was talk about this last year. But it never came to fruition. Hopefully it does this year. Funny how good everyone thinks Andrew Bynum is . . . until he matches up against the Beast.
Damn tootin'. There was talk about this last year. But it never came to fruition. Hopefully it does this year. Funny how good everyone thinks Andrew Bynum is . . . until he matches up against the Beast.
Big Baby Playing Increasingly Large
In the last meeting between the Celtics and Magic Jan. 22, Davis outplayed Dwight Howard in the second half. --Boston Globe
Every now and then I like to mix things up by saying something that is outrageously pro-Celtic but which still has a tincture of truth. Hence, the Leon Powe v. Shaq comparison. Yet when I read observations like the above, I'm reminded that sometimes things that sound ridiculously pro-Celtic are still true. Big Baby is definitely carving out a name for himself this spring in anticipation of suitors lining up to bid for his services next summer. I'm excited to see if he keeps improving and making an even bigger impact as March turns to April and the playoffs start.
Every now and then I like to mix things up by saying something that is outrageously pro-Celtic but which still has a tincture of truth. Hence, the Leon Powe v. Shaq comparison. Yet when I read observations like the above, I'm reminded that sometimes things that sound ridiculously pro-Celtic are still true. Big Baby is definitely carving out a name for himself this spring in anticipation of suitors lining up to bid for his services next summer. I'm excited to see if he keeps improving and making an even bigger impact as March turns to April and the playoffs start.
Is This McHale's Last Year?
Back when Kevin McHale originally signed on with the Timberwolves, he laid the ground rules for his tenure: (1) he, McHale, was a family man; (2) he was an outdoorsman; (3) he was a homebody, and thus didn't like to travel; and (4) he didn't work evenings; and (5) under no circumstances would he work himself into the grave.
Fourteen years later, McHale's kids are grown-up. He's on the road more than he's at home. He works mornings, days, evenings, and over night. His dark brown hair is no amply now flecked with gray, and the only time he gets to spend outdoors is walking from the team bus to the hotel lobby.
We all knew the guy who laid the ground rules. "I've got a life," the rules screamed out, "and I'm gonna keep it that way."
So how did we get here from there? I think we all know the answer to that. The more important question is when will McHale return to there from here?
Part of the problem is that McHale has enjoyed a life filled with success. His #44 is hanging in the rafters at Williams Arena, while his #32 is hanging in the rafters at the Gahden. The other part of the problem is that he doesn't deal well with failure. According to Peter May, McHale still dwells on Hibbing's loss to Bloomington Jefferson's Steven Lingenfelter in Minnesota's High School Championship game.
And so it is with his experience in the Timberwolves' organization. One part of McHale refuses to quit until he "fixes" the team, and Minnesota is back in the playoff hunt. The other part of McHale is telling him to get the hell out and go fishing. Glenn Taylor tells him he can coach the team as long as he wants.
McHale can't fix the loss to Bloomington Jefferson. But he's under the misapprehension that fixing the Wolves should not only be a priority, but his priority. The large paycheck he receives complicates the equation. But the guy we all remember--the witty, care-free, stream-of-consciousness-interview-giver--won't find his inner peace until he tells the Timberwolves goodbye.
Here's to hoping that's sooner than later, for Kevin's sake.
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