The Lakers took it on the chin on defense Friday night, the Dallas Mavericks slicing them up with a steady diet of pick-and-rolls. At times last season, the Lakers had trouble with their pick-and-roll defense.
LINK
Let's face it. The Lakers have defended the pick-and-roll serviceably twice in the last three years: December 25, 2008, and February 5, 2009, and they absolutely had to win those two games to rebuild their self-esteem. The prior June we saw how well they played defense against a team highly skilled at the pick and roll, and I expect that same team to be even more dangerous when deploying the pick and roll with a revamped line-up that includes Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, and an improved Glen Davis.
There's also that little thing called D-E-S-I-R-E.
The bad taste at Waltham still lingers from last season, and I'm not just talking about KG's injury and the loss to Orlando in the playoffs. Paul Pierce had four dates circled on his calendar the day the schedules came out, two of those being on 1/31/10 (a Sunday) and 2/18/10 (a Thursday). Anyone doubt the rest of the Celtics have those dates circled, too?
10.31.2009
Turns Out the Lakers' Bench Stunk against the Clippers, Too
The Lakers' substitutes got outhustled and outscored in the season-opening victory Tuesday over the Clippers. Are they worried? A little bit, judging by comments made today at practice by Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic.
"Obviously, we want to play more," Walton said. "Obviously, we want to play better. We played like trash in the second quarter. Sometimes things just don't work out for you. It was a perfect storm (on) opening night.
"I know the guys on the bench are upset with the situation. The coaches are probably upset with us. But it's one game. We have 81 more. We've proven over the last few years that we have a pretty reliable bench."
LINK
Any time Luke Walton is a key player off your bench, you're in for some disappointment. It also doesn't help that, depending on whom you talk to, the Lakers' back-up point-guard is either Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, or Sasha Vigatooth. An even bigger problem is, regardless of who the Zen Mistress goes with at the back-up point, he's probably better than their starting point guard, Derek Fisher, who really isn't a point guard at all, and, judging from his .235 field goal percentage this year, isn't much of an undersized shooting guard either.
Since the Army went out on a limb and predicted that Andrew Bynum would be traded by mid-season, I, too, will make a prediction, though less bold. This is D.Fish's last year in the purple. He will be forced into retirement after the Fakers get dismissed from the playoffs next May. There is even a small chance the Lakers may acquire a real point guard before the deadline, and move Fish to the bench.
"Obviously, we want to play more," Walton said. "Obviously, we want to play better. We played like trash in the second quarter. Sometimes things just don't work out for you. It was a perfect storm (on) opening night.
"I know the guys on the bench are upset with the situation. The coaches are probably upset with us. But it's one game. We have 81 more. We've proven over the last few years that we have a pretty reliable bench."
LINK
Any time Luke Walton is a key player off your bench, you're in for some disappointment. It also doesn't help that, depending on whom you talk to, the Lakers' back-up point-guard is either Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, or Sasha Vigatooth. An even bigger problem is, regardless of who the Zen Mistress goes with at the back-up point, he's probably better than their starting point guard, Derek Fisher, who really isn't a point guard at all, and, judging from his .235 field goal percentage this year, isn't much of an undersized shooting guard either.
Since the Army went out on a limb and predicted that Andrew Bynum would be traded by mid-season, I, too, will make a prediction, though less bold. This is D.Fish's last year in the purple. He will be forced into retirement after the Fakers get dismissed from the playoffs next May. There is even a small chance the Lakers may acquire a real point guard before the deadline, and move Fish to the bench.
Larry Earns First Pro Win over Magic
Game 3: Celtics 108, Lakers 103
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 14, 1982
INGLEWOOD, Calif.
Where do you start on this one? With M. L. Carr's invaluable two-way second-half contribution? With Tiny Archibald's first-half keep-'em-floating offensive play? With Robert Parish's aggressive 22-point, 14-rebound triumph over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Or perhaps with Cedric Maxwell's most significant performance of the season, a 27-point, 11-rebound gem that evoked memories of his awesome Game 5 show in last year's championship series with Houston? Any of these items would provide a valid reference point, but Kevin McHale thought the key to victory was something less tangible.
"I realize this is your basic cliche explanation," McHale declared, "but the fact is that we wanted it worse. When we came back for the timeouts, people were saying, C'mon, we're not going to lose this game.' That's all there was to it." Whatever the motivational gap, this much is clear: The Celtics outplayed Los Angeles down the stretch yesterday afternoon, earning a 108-103 decision that served the dual purpose of keeping the Celtics in first place back East and keeping the Lakers from taking over first place out here.
What the sellout Forum crowd of 17,505 - plus the CBS television audience - witnessed was a high-level NBA confrontation featuring very physical team defense, solid board work and true offensive professionalism, regrettably marred by the game-long officiating improprieties of Hugh Evans and Bill Saar, who are both usually better than they were yesterday. In a very real sense, the game never got started until the midway point of the final period. But when it did, the Celtics' quintet of McHale, Larry Bird, Maxwell, Gerry Henderson and Carr assumed command.
LA, which had led for all but two minutes of periods two, three and the first half of four, was still ahead as late as 92-91 with 4:48 remaining. The Lakers' go-ahead basket had been provided by Jamaal Wilkes on an acrobatic rebound follow-up. But the Celtics answered with six straight points and would never again be headed. The sequence began when Bird (nine assists) fed Henderson in the lane for a jumper. Wilkes (25 points) almost dropped in a dexterious baseline drive, but the ball refused to drop and the Celtics took advantage when Maxwell hit a whirling jump hook on the transition for a three-point (95-92) lead. Abdul- Jabbar was then assessed a loose-ball foul on a Michael Cooper in-and- outer, leading to a pair of clutch free throws by McHale.
High on the list of reasons the Celtics were able to hang on in this game was luck. After Maxwell had taken a spectacular Carr penetra-tion feed for a patented hanging three-point play to make it 102-96 with 2:06 left, Wilkes responded with a corner jumper. But the Celtics got those two right back with 1:37 remaining when Kareem lost control of a defensive rebound and accidentally diverted the ball into Boston's basket.
The next break, and a very vital one, came with 19 seconds to play. LA had launched a final comeback, with a Magic Johnson free throw with 32 seconds left pulling the Lakers to within one at 104-103. Boston ran a play for Bird (again shackled by the willowy Cooper), who started in a left-to-right direction. There was contact with Cooper, after which Bird threw the ball up well after the whistle. The ball went in, and the LA crowd erupted when Saar signaled the basket good. This may have been carrying the concept of "continuation" to the extreme. Bird made the free throw, and when Carr stole the inbounds pass, the victory was insured.
The victory was a tribute to Boston's mental toughness, as well as a growing LA passivity that has now resulted in three straight losses overall, plus three straight Forum setbacks. LA had forced some Boston turnovers to overcome an early 18-9 deficit, assuming apparent control of the game for the next 2 1/2 periods. But the biggest LA margin was eight (43-35), and the largest LA second-half advantage was seven (59-52). Boston was always able to keep Showtime from getting started.
The X factor was Carr, who wound up contributing nine points, three rebounds, the aforementioned key assist to Maxwell and his usual overall brand of hustling defensive play. This augmented the vigorous Maxwell display (six offensive rebounds), a showing so forceful that Wilkes said, "Maxwell delivered today; he was the key." Maybe he was, and maybe he wasn't, but Maxwell's sudden revival (58 points, 18 rebounds, 22-for-31 shooting) in the past two games has picked up the team. His own enthusiasm seems to have been restored. "Max was even calling his own play in the huddle," said McHale.
Well, there it is, a revenge victory over LA, a 2-1 road start and another couple of days in first place. "Back on the bandwagon, everybody!" shouted Chris Ford as they entered the locker room. Whatever you say, men.
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 14, 1982
INGLEWOOD, Calif.
Where do you start on this one? With M. L. Carr's invaluable two-way second-half contribution? With Tiny Archibald's first-half keep-'em-floating offensive play? With Robert Parish's aggressive 22-point, 14-rebound triumph over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Or perhaps with Cedric Maxwell's most significant performance of the season, a 27-point, 11-rebound gem that evoked memories of his awesome Game 5 show in last year's championship series with Houston? Any of these items would provide a valid reference point, but Kevin McHale thought the key to victory was something less tangible.
"I realize this is your basic cliche explanation," McHale declared, "but the fact is that we wanted it worse. When we came back for the timeouts, people were saying, C'mon, we're not going to lose this game.' That's all there was to it." Whatever the motivational gap, this much is clear: The Celtics outplayed Los Angeles down the stretch yesterday afternoon, earning a 108-103 decision that served the dual purpose of keeping the Celtics in first place back East and keeping the Lakers from taking over first place out here.
What the sellout Forum crowd of 17,505 - plus the CBS television audience - witnessed was a high-level NBA confrontation featuring very physical team defense, solid board work and true offensive professionalism, regrettably marred by the game-long officiating improprieties of Hugh Evans and Bill Saar, who are both usually better than they were yesterday. In a very real sense, the game never got started until the midway point of the final period. But when it did, the Celtics' quintet of McHale, Larry Bird, Maxwell, Gerry Henderson and Carr assumed command.
LA, which had led for all but two minutes of periods two, three and the first half of four, was still ahead as late as 92-91 with 4:48 remaining. The Lakers' go-ahead basket had been provided by Jamaal Wilkes on an acrobatic rebound follow-up. But the Celtics answered with six straight points and would never again be headed. The sequence began when Bird (nine assists) fed Henderson in the lane for a jumper. Wilkes (25 points) almost dropped in a dexterious baseline drive, but the ball refused to drop and the Celtics took advantage when Maxwell hit a whirling jump hook on the transition for a three-point (95-92) lead. Abdul- Jabbar was then assessed a loose-ball foul on a Michael Cooper in-and- outer, leading to a pair of clutch free throws by McHale.
High on the list of reasons the Celtics were able to hang on in this game was luck. After Maxwell had taken a spectacular Carr penetra-tion feed for a patented hanging three-point play to make it 102-96 with 2:06 left, Wilkes responded with a corner jumper. But the Celtics got those two right back with 1:37 remaining when Kareem lost control of a defensive rebound and accidentally diverted the ball into Boston's basket.
The next break, and a very vital one, came with 19 seconds to play. LA had launched a final comeback, with a Magic Johnson free throw with 32 seconds left pulling the Lakers to within one at 104-103. Boston ran a play for Bird (again shackled by the willowy Cooper), who started in a left-to-right direction. There was contact with Cooper, after which Bird threw the ball up well after the whistle. The ball went in, and the LA crowd erupted when Saar signaled the basket good. This may have been carrying the concept of "continuation" to the extreme. Bird made the free throw, and when Carr stole the inbounds pass, the victory was insured.
The victory was a tribute to Boston's mental toughness, as well as a growing LA passivity that has now resulted in three straight losses overall, plus three straight Forum setbacks. LA had forced some Boston turnovers to overcome an early 18-9 deficit, assuming apparent control of the game for the next 2 1/2 periods. But the biggest LA margin was eight (43-35), and the largest LA second-half advantage was seven (59-52). Boston was always able to keep Showtime from getting started.
The X factor was Carr, who wound up contributing nine points, three rebounds, the aforementioned key assist to Maxwell and his usual overall brand of hustling defensive play. This augmented the vigorous Maxwell display (six offensive rebounds), a showing so forceful that Wilkes said, "Maxwell delivered today; he was the key." Maybe he was, and maybe he wasn't, but Maxwell's sudden revival (58 points, 18 rebounds, 22-for-31 shooting) in the past two games has picked up the team. His own enthusiasm seems to have been restored. "Max was even calling his own play in the huddle," said McHale.
Well, there it is, a revenge victory over LA, a 2-1 road start and another couple of days in first place. "Back on the bandwagon, everybody!" shouted Chris Ford as they entered the locker room. Whatever you say, men.
Larry v. Magic: Bird Heating Up As Game 3 Approaches
#33 Wins Player of the Month for January
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 3, 1982
Well, you know, he was kinda hard to ignore.
Larry Bird played 14 games in January, not including the All-Star Game, where he was the MVP. He averaged 26.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.9 steals. He scored 40 points once and had over 30 on five other occasions.
So it did not exactly come as a complete shock when Bird was named yesterday as the NBA Player of the Month, beating out Gus Williams, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Alex English, Jay Vincent and John Long, most of whom should be immensely pleased just to be named in the same paragraph as Larry Bird, when it comes to discussing quality basketball players.
Which brings us to last night's game. The Bird stat line reads 43 minutes, 26 points (8-for-19 from the floor), 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and zero turnovers. It sounds nice, but what it added up to was a so-so Bird performance, a routine earn-the-paycheck night's work that nonetheless represented an achievement that could not have been matched for impact on the game by 95 percent of the game's players.
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 3, 1982
Well, you know, he was kinda hard to ignore.
Larry Bird played 14 games in January, not including the All-Star Game, where he was the MVP. He averaged 26.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.9 steals. He scored 40 points once and had over 30 on five other occasions.
So it did not exactly come as a complete shock when Bird was named yesterday as the NBA Player of the Month, beating out Gus Williams, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Alex English, Jay Vincent and John Long, most of whom should be immensely pleased just to be named in the same paragraph as Larry Bird, when it comes to discussing quality basketball players.
Which brings us to last night's game. The Bird stat line reads 43 minutes, 26 points (8-for-19 from the floor), 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and zero turnovers. It sounds nice, but what it added up to was a so-so Bird performance, a routine earn-the-paycheck night's work that nonetheless represented an achievement that could not have been matched for impact on the game by 95 percent of the game's players.
Ron Artest v. Shelden Williams: Who's Off to the Better Start?
Shelden Williams
Salary: $1.9m for 1 year
Ron Artest
Salary: $36m for 5 years
Salary: $1.9m for 1 year
| 2009-10 Statistics | FG | 3PT | FT | Rebounds | Misc | ||||||||||||
| G | MIN | FGM-A | FG% | 3PM-A | 3P% | FTM-A | FT% | OFF | DEF | TOT | STL | BLK | TO | PF | AST | PTS | |
| Season | 3 | 19.7 | 4-8 | .500 | 0-0 | .000 | 18-21 | .857 | 1.7 | 5.7 | 7.3 | .33 | 1.00 | 1.33 | 4.00 | 1.7 | 8.7 |
Ron Artest
Salary: $36m for 5 years
| 2009-10 Statistics | FG | 3PT | FT | Rebounds | Misc | ||||||||||||
| G | MIN | FGM-A | FG% | 3PM-A | 3P% | FTM-A | FT% | OFF | DEF | TOT | STL | BLK | TO | PF | AST | PTS | |
| Season | 2 | 32.0 | 4-16 | .250 | 2-9 | .222 | 3-9 | .333 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.50 | .00 | 4.00 | 3.50 | 3.5 | 6.5 |
Lakers Pummeled at Home
That'll take some shine off Tuesday's ring ceremony, no?
LINK
Mark Cuban still thinks Ron Artest carries implosion potential.
LINK
“I think we probably wanted it a little too much and that’s what resulted in some of the turnovers, shots going in and out.”
--Kobe Bryant
“We got to look at the tape. We got to go back and look at the tape and see what happened. Basically, there’s no excuses really. That’s the main thing.”
--Ron Artest
I wonder if Reggie Miller still has the L's penciled in for a 20-1 start?
Box Score
10.30.2009
Nope, this Definitely isn't 2007-08
1. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics couldn't find Ray Allen enough looks. This year, Ray Allen gets just as many shots as he wants. Tonight he was the best player on the floor in the first half. There were at least a dozen games in 2007-08 where Ray Allen had a hot hand, but still scored less than 20 points. Why? No one was looking for him. Tonight is the latest example that no Ray-Allen hot-hand will get wasted this year.
2. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics needed a little bravado, a little cajones, a little smack to work themselves into a lather before administering a beatdown. This year, the Celtics just go about it in a businesslike manner. The Cobra slowly applies the vice on its pray, the opponent's offense starts getting light-headed, disoriented, and finally succumbs. Meanwhile, the Celtics go down to the other end of the floor and make them pay.
3. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics first unit built ginormous leads of twenty, thirty, or more points, and then kept their fingers crossed that the second unit could maintain the lead. This year, the first team usually plays unenthusiastic basketball to start the game, and only after the second unit has kicked some arse does the first unit come back in the game and pick up their level of play. By the way, remember when I said I was looking forward to seeing what Squisy was gonna do against the Bulls tonight? So far, pretty much what I expected: capitalizing on his size advantage, showin' off his offensive wares, and otherwise showcasing the goods.
4. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics were a very good 3-point shooting team. This year we are outstanding. Has Paul Pierce been reborn as one of the league's deadliest 3-point shooters or is it just me? And if he has, how long can he keep it up? I remember one year out of know nowhere, Kevin McHale went from being a non-threat from 3 to being a legitimate threat. So there is no reason why the Truth can't go from being a legitimate threat from three to being one of the most feared shooters from range in the NBA.
5. In 2007-08, Rajon Rondo was a good point guard who showed flashes of greatness. Now he is a great point guard who occasionally plays the position as well as its ever been played.
Now I'm not saying everything is totally different from 2007-08. The one thing that is the same is how the defense both then and now feeds off itself. One good defensive play begets another, and one level of intensity begets the next. I've seen what I needed to see. Yes, this team can be damn good defensively again.
Oh. One other thing. Mission accomplished on my pre-game agenda to end any perception of parity between these two teams.
2. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics needed a little bravado, a little cajones, a little smack to work themselves into a lather before administering a beatdown. This year, the Celtics just go about it in a businesslike manner. The Cobra slowly applies the vice on its pray, the opponent's offense starts getting light-headed, disoriented, and finally succumbs. Meanwhile, the Celtics go down to the other end of the floor and make them pay.
3. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics first unit built ginormous leads of twenty, thirty, or more points, and then kept their fingers crossed that the second unit could maintain the lead. This year, the first team usually plays unenthusiastic basketball to start the game, and only after the second unit has kicked some arse does the first unit come back in the game and pick up their level of play. By the way, remember when I said I was looking forward to seeing what Squisy was gonna do against the Bulls tonight? So far, pretty much what I expected: capitalizing on his size advantage, showin' off his offensive wares, and otherwise showcasing the goods.
4. In 2007-08, the Boston Celtics were a very good 3-point shooting team. This year we are outstanding. Has Paul Pierce been reborn as one of the league's deadliest 3-point shooters or is it just me? And if he has, how long can he keep it up? I remember one year out of know nowhere, Kevin McHale went from being a non-threat from 3 to being a legitimate threat. So there is no reason why the Truth can't go from being a legitimate threat from three to being one of the most feared shooters from range in the NBA.
5. In 2007-08, Rajon Rondo was a good point guard who showed flashes of greatness. Now he is a great point guard who occasionally plays the position as well as its ever been played.
Now I'm not saying everything is totally different from 2007-08. The one thing that is the same is how the defense both then and now feeds off itself. One good defensive play begets another, and one level of intensity begets the next. I've seen what I needed to see. Yes, this team can be damn good defensively again.
Oh. One other thing. Mission accomplished on my pre-game agenda to end any perception of parity between these two teams.
Let's See Some D Tonight and Some Attitude
"Shutting people down," the Celtics forward said of what is more satisfying, offensive or defensive dominance. “(That’s) because we work so hard in practice. Man, ya’ll have no idea what our drills are like. The majority of our practices are schemes - how we’re gonna defend, things night in and night out for all kinds of teams.”
LINK
Eight blocks, 10 steals, 18 turnovers forced. There's no shortage of stats that stress just how good the Celtics' defense played. But maybe Charlotte's line score sums it up best: 13-18-10-18 -- 59. In the 11 other NBA games that took place across the league Wednesday, only eight other quarter scorers were in the teens or lower.
LINK
Boston forced 18 turnovers, registered 10 steals, held the Bobcats to 31.1 percent shooting overall, and absolutely flustered the Charlotte offense with constant pressure and deflections.The Celtics limited the Bobcats to 20 percent shooting (3 of 15) in the first quarter. After being shut out over the first five minutes of that first quarter, the Bobcats endured another scoreless stretch of more than six minutes to start the second half. Over those two stretches alone, the Celtics outscored Charlotte, 23-0.
LINK
I don't usually do game previews, and tonight is no exception. However, I will say this. I fully support a Celtics' imposed blowout, kind of like the ones from November and December of 2007 (here). The last game was nice. But the Celtics' didn't really put the hammer down, not with emotion anyway. I want the green to show America that any perceived parity between these two squads is history. What I want to avoid at all costs is a remake of this production.
70-12
The Celtics' combined record at home over the last two seasons. And somebody thinks we're gonna top that in one season playing both at home and on the road?
Hitler was a Lakers Fan
Gotta be one of the funniest videos I've ever seen. This is Pulp Fiction on steroids. I may have to retire from blogging, folks. It's all down hill from here.
Larry & Magic's All-Star Battle Serves as Prelude to Game 3
Larry Wins All-Star Game MVP as East Beats West
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 1, 1982
In the '60s, it was the preeminent rivalry in pro basketball. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. No one will forget the wars those two goliaths waged, and it didn't seem to matter whether it was a regular-season game, a playoff or an All-Star game. Now in the '80s, one has to suspect that the rivalry between the Celtics' Larry Bird and the Lakers' Magic Johnson is just beginning to warm up, perhaps to Russell-Chamberlain proportions. True, Bird is a forward and Johnson primarily plays guard, but their all-round skills are remarkably similar.
"We're the same type players," said Johnson, who came within inches of being a hero and instead wound up a loser as the East topped the West, 120-118, yesterday in the 32d annual NBA All-Star game. "We're big-game players. We both like the pressure. We both seem to play better under the pressure.
"We definitely have respect for one another. The things Larry can do are just unbelievable. He just beats everybody upstairs because he plays a smart game. We're much alike and we respect each other on and off the court." Bird walked away with the Most Valuable Player Award. His contributions for the East--19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal--speak for themselves. But Bird's success didn't for one minute diminish the respect he has for Johnson.
"I think he's a great player," said Bird. "We're very similar in the things we can do. We both like to move the ball up the court, shoot, rebound and get assists. I personally think he's a better passer than I am and is quicker. I'm a better shooter and I play more inside. I enjoyed watching him play in the game today. I try to study him and see what I can learn. He's a great player." In fact, had Johnson (16 points, 7 assists for the West) sunk a layup with three seconds left instead of missing, the game might have gone into overtime, and he might have wound up as the MVP.
But he accepted the outcome philosophically.
"I don't feel bad about what happened today," he said. "It's no trouble for me. If we tie, we tie. If not, look forward to next year. It's the season that counts, not an All-Star game. "Was I looking for a three-point play? You can't do that. You think about getting into position and shooting, and then you have to shoot. If you can get fouled, get fouled. My first thing was just to try to get to the basket. (The East's Michael Ray) Richardson made me pull up sooner than I wanted to. I wanted to take it to the basket a little bit further, but he came to help and I had to shoot out a little further than I wanted to. It almost went but hit the rim. That's just the way it goes."
There was a time when Johnson and Bird were less than kind in the things they said about each other on and off the court. Johnson's Michigan State team beat Bird and Indiana State for the NCAA championship in 1979, and Johnson took the Lakers to the NBA title in his rookie season. Bird brought the Celtics to the summit last year. Now they realize that their rivalry is becoming something very special. And with that realization has come mutual respect.
"I think it's toned down a lot," said Johnson of the cool feelings. "I think it's gotten where we can talk and be friends. Early on, it was really intense. But now it's changed. Somebody is going to win or lose, that's just the facts, and there is no need for us carrying that off the floor. We've become more friendly. "It doesn't matter to me if Bird got the MVP. I knew he was going to get it, either him or Julius (Erving). They both played a great game."
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Summary
Larry v. Magic: Game-by-Game Media Coverage
February 1, 1982
In the '60s, it was the preeminent rivalry in pro basketball. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. No one will forget the wars those two goliaths waged, and it didn't seem to matter whether it was a regular-season game, a playoff or an All-Star game. Now in the '80s, one has to suspect that the rivalry between the Celtics' Larry Bird and the Lakers' Magic Johnson is just beginning to warm up, perhaps to Russell-Chamberlain proportions. True, Bird is a forward and Johnson primarily plays guard, but their all-round skills are remarkably similar.
"We're the same type players," said Johnson, who came within inches of being a hero and instead wound up a loser as the East topped the West, 120-118, yesterday in the 32d annual NBA All-Star game. "We're big-game players. We both like the pressure. We both seem to play better under the pressure.
"We definitely have respect for one another. The things Larry can do are just unbelievable. He just beats everybody upstairs because he plays a smart game. We're much alike and we respect each other on and off the court." Bird walked away with the Most Valuable Player Award. His contributions for the East--19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal--speak for themselves. But Bird's success didn't for one minute diminish the respect he has for Johnson.
"I think he's a great player," said Bird. "We're very similar in the things we can do. We both like to move the ball up the court, shoot, rebound and get assists. I personally think he's a better passer than I am and is quicker. I'm a better shooter and I play more inside. I enjoyed watching him play in the game today. I try to study him and see what I can learn. He's a great player." In fact, had Johnson (16 points, 7 assists for the West) sunk a layup with three seconds left instead of missing, the game might have gone into overtime, and he might have wound up as the MVP.
But he accepted the outcome philosophically.
"I don't feel bad about what happened today," he said. "It's no trouble for me. If we tie, we tie. If not, look forward to next year. It's the season that counts, not an All-Star game. "Was I looking for a three-point play? You can't do that. You think about getting into position and shooting, and then you have to shoot. If you can get fouled, get fouled. My first thing was just to try to get to the basket. (The East's Michael Ray) Richardson made me pull up sooner than I wanted to. I wanted to take it to the basket a little bit further, but he came to help and I had to shoot out a little further than I wanted to. It almost went but hit the rim. That's just the way it goes."
There was a time when Johnson and Bird were less than kind in the things they said about each other on and off the court. Johnson's Michigan State team beat Bird and Indiana State for the NCAA championship in 1979, and Johnson took the Lakers to the NBA title in his rookie season. Bird brought the Celtics to the summit last year. Now they realize that their rivalry is becoming something very special. And with that realization has come mutual respect.
"I think it's toned down a lot," said Johnson of the cool feelings. "I think it's gotten where we can talk and be friends. Early on, it was really intense. But now it's changed. Somebody is going to win or lose, that's just the facts, and there is no need for us carrying that off the floor. We've become more friendly. "It doesn't matter to me if Bird got the MVP. I knew he was going to get it, either him or Julius (Erving). They both played a great game."
10.29.2009
3-0: Celtics 118, Bulls 90
Bulls 90, 
Celtics 118 8:00 PM ET, October 30, 2009
TD Garden
Boston, MA
| CHICAGO BULLS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Luol Deng, SF | 20 | 2-8 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -10 | 4 |
| Tyrus Thomas, PF | 24 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 4-9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -19 | 10 |
| Joakim Noah, C | 28 | 7-10 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -33 | 16 |
| John Salmons, SF | 32 | 2-14 | 1-5 | 3-3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -30 | 8 |
| Derrick Rose, PG | 24 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -19 | 10 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Lindsey Hunter, SG | 7 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -8 | 0 |
| Brad Miller, C | 23 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -2 | 9 |
| Kirk Hinrich, G | 27 | 4-9 | 0-5 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 10 |
| Jannero Pargo, PG | 22 | 6-12 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -6 | 13 |
| Taj Gibson, F | 23 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| James Johnson, F | 11 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 4 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 34-82 | 2-15 | 20-27 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 27 | 90 | |||
| 41.5% | 13.3% | 74.1% | ||||||||||||
Fast break points: 4 Points in the paint: 38 Team TO ( points off ): 15 (10) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 25 | 7-13 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +15 | 16 |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 31 | 8-12 | 5-7 | 1-1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +23 | 22 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 19 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | +20 | 9 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 23 | 7-9 | 2-3 | 4-4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | +20 | 20 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 30 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | +15 | 2 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Rasheed Wallace, FC | 26 | 2-9 | 1-6 | 2-2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | +11 | 7 |
| Eddie House, PG | 22 | 9-13 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +9 | 22 |
| Marquis Daniels, SG | 25 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 3-4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +10 | 7 |
| Shelden Williams, PF | 24 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 6-6 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +10 | 10 |
| J.R. Giddens, SG | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 0 |
| Lester Hudson, G | 10 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 3 |
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 43-74 | 12-24 | 20-24 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 33 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 118 | |||
The Reinforcements Have Arrived
I was re-watching us get our asses kicked in the first quarter against the Cavs on opening night, and I noticed one thing I missed the first time through. At the 4:54 marker of the first quarter, Doc brings Sheed into the game. We're down 21-12. A minute later we're down 26-14. Bron-Bron just canned a 96-foot three pointer with the shot-clock running down. Cleveland, it seemed, could do no wrong, while the Celtics were struggling to do anything right.
Until the next trip down the floor, when Sheed catches the ball two feet behind the arc, pauses for a moment to get his feet settled under him, and then drills a three with Z's hand in his face. Nothing but net. As #30 is back-pedaling down the court, the camera man zooms in on his face. Sheed's waiting for eye contact with the Ticket. When he gets it, Sheed closes his eyes for an observable second, opens them, and then nods to #5. His face is otherwise expressionless, but calm. He seems to be saying something. He seems to be saying this:
Nothing to worry about, Big Fella. This is why you guys brought me here. The reinforcements have arrived. Now let's go get that lead back.
Well, that's how I read it anyway. :)
Tiny Passes the Torch to Zeke
1983-84 Boston Celtics
Pistons 127, Celtics 121
Record: 0-1
10/28/1983
The torch has been passed.
Tiny Archibald is 35, Magic Johnson defies position and although you'll get some argument from Maurice Cheeks fans, it seems safe to crown Detroit's Isiah Thomas as the premier point guard in the NBA. Incredibly, Thomas is only 22 years old and would be a rookie this year if not for the hardship rule. Instead, he has already started in two All-Star games and been named one of the league's top 10 players (a second-team All-NBA selection last season).
"I never came in thinking I had anything to prove," Thomas says. "I just want to win and go to the playoffs." "He's awesome," says Celtics' coach K. C. Jones. "He brings the ball up like Magic. He's a creative passer and a great outside shooter." "He's certainly among the best," says Quinn Buckner, who was Bobby Knight's playmaker before Thomas. "He played with the savvy of a two-year veteran when he first came into the league."
In 154 NBA games, Thomas has averaged 20 points and 7.8 assists. Last year, he led the league in minutes (3093), ranked fourth in steals, eighth in assists and 12th in scoring. In the Pistons' 127-121 season-opening win over the Celtics Friday night, he had 16 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Detractors say that Thomas thinks "shoot" first and "pass" second, and could use some work on defense.
"I can get better at everything," he says. We probably won't know how good he is until (if) the Pistons start winning.
Pistons 127, Celtics 121
Record: 0-1
10/28/1983
The torch has been passed.
Tiny Archibald is 35, Magic Johnson defies position and although you'll get some argument from Maurice Cheeks fans, it seems safe to crown Detroit's Isiah Thomas as the premier point guard in the NBA. Incredibly, Thomas is only 22 years old and would be a rookie this year if not for the hardship rule. Instead, he has already started in two All-Star games and been named one of the league's top 10 players (a second-team All-NBA selection last season).
"I never came in thinking I had anything to prove," Thomas says. "I just want to win and go to the playoffs." "He's awesome," says Celtics' coach K. C. Jones. "He brings the ball up like Magic. He's a creative passer and a great outside shooter." "He's certainly among the best," says Quinn Buckner, who was Bobby Knight's playmaker before Thomas. "He played with the savvy of a two-year veteran when he first came into the league."
In 154 NBA games, Thomas has averaged 20 points and 7.8 assists. Last year, he led the league in minutes (3093), ranked fourth in steals, eighth in assists and 12th in scoring. In the Pistons' 127-121 season-opening win over the Celtics Friday night, he had 16 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Detractors say that Thomas thinks "shoot" first and "pass" second, and could use some work on defense.
"I can get better at everything," he says. We probably won't know how good he is until (if) the Pistons start winning.
Celtics Lose Season Opener to Pistons (0-1)
1983-84 Boston Celtics
Pistons 127, Celtics 121
Record: 0-1
10/28/1983
DETROIT. One more like this and everybody will be saying they can't win without Bill Fitch. The Celtics opened their "We Owe You One" 1983-84 season last night much the same way they closed the dismal campaign of '82-83. In 48 minutes of stinko action (not helped by non-union officials, we should add), Boston played zero defense, ignored the fast break, and dropped a 127-121 decision to the upstart Pistons.
The Celtics were in foul trouble all night and had a hard time overcoming a memorable no-show performance by Robert Parish. They gave up 70 points in the first half and trailed, 70-66, at intermission. Things got worse before they got better. Midway through the third quarter, Detroit led, 86-74 and Boston's four top guards all had at least three personal fouls. Parish didn't score in the first half while Detroit center Bill Laimbeer rung up 18 points (he had 26 total). Parish got one basket in the third quarter, and two more in the fourth, but spent a good part of the evening on the bench.
With four starters on the bench, Boston scored six straight to pull within four (90-86) with 3:12 left in the third. Kevin McHale (25 points) and Scott Wedman keyed the surge and McHale gave the 17,117 an extra thrill when he got into a brief shoving match with Laimbeer. Both players were assessed technical fouls. Detroit led, 96-93, after three. Isiah Thomas came alive with eight points early in the third, but the Celtics fought back and were able to pull even (106-106) with 7:50 left when Thomas picked up his fifth foul and a technical.
The lead changed hands a couple of times after that. Kelly Tripucka, who did a reasonable impersonation of Dave DeBusschere all night, put the Pistons up by three, 116-113, with a bank shot with 3:28 left. Dennis Johnson followed-up a Larry Bird (23 points) miss to cut it to one. With 2:24 showing, Parish woke up and hit a foul-line rainbow to put Boston ahead, 117-116. After McHale rebounded a Terry Tyler miss, Bird canned on from out top to make it 119-116.
The Pistons caled time with 1:44 remaining. Two free throws by John Long cut it to 119-118, and after Parish traveled, Thomas hit a jumper to put Detroit ahead for good, 120-119 with 47 seconds left. The Celtics next chance was blown when Isiah stole the ball from Parish at midcout, got fouled and hit both to make it 122-119. Jones called time with 0:37 showing. Tyler rebounded a miss by Bird, was fouled and hit one with 25 seconds left to make it 123-119. The Celtics called time again. Bird cut it to two, but the Celtics had to foul Tripucka with 16 seconds left and he hit both to make it 125-121. Don Meredith could have started his "The Party's over" at that point.
It would be safe to say that the Celtics were unable to establish the kind of defensive pressure they wanted in the first quarter. A team coached by K.C. Jones is not playing well if it surrenders 38 points in 12 minutes, which is exactly what the Celtics did. Boston trailed, 38-33, after one. Gerald Henderson scored seven of Boston's first 13 points, but he was replaced by Quinn Buckner early because Jones wanted more pressure on Thomas. The lead went back and forth for most of the quarter, but the Pistons took charge on an 8-4 run (led by sub Tyler's six straight) at the close of the quarter.
Detroit center Laimbeer (nine in the quarter, 18 in the half) and Kelly Tripucka (also 18 first-half points) hurt the Celtics underneath. Conversely, the Celtics weren't able to get much under the basket. Parish didn't score in the first quarter, and Cedric Maxwell had only one basket and four points. Ray Tolbert put the Pistons ahead by seven at the start of the second, but the Celtics roared back, scoring eight straight (six by Wedman) to briefly regain the lead, 41-40. The Celtic surge was short-lived, as the Pistons proceeded to rip off eight straight of their own to take a 48-41 lead and force Jones to call time with 7:55 left in the half. Detroit made it ten in a row on another jumper by the unconscious Tyler.
Desperate for some activity, Jones got tagged with his first technical foul of the new regime. Tyler missed the free throw. After the interruption, the Celtics started going inside to Maxwell and McHale. McHale ended up with 14 in the half, which somewhat offset Parish's shutout performance. A bomb by Bird (15 in the half) tied it, 62-62, but Tripucka took over for the Pistons, scoring nine in the final three minutes of the period. Detroit led, 70-66, when the horn went off. It was a particularly scary half because the Pistons had 70 points and a four-point lead even though Thomas had scored only two. K.C.'s first halftime chat must have been a beauty.
Pistons 127, Celtics 121
Record: 0-1
10/28/1983
DETROIT. One more like this and everybody will be saying they can't win without Bill Fitch. The Celtics opened their "We Owe You One" 1983-84 season last night much the same way they closed the dismal campaign of '82-83. In 48 minutes of stinko action (not helped by non-union officials, we should add), Boston played zero defense, ignored the fast break, and dropped a 127-121 decision to the upstart Pistons.
The Celtics were in foul trouble all night and had a hard time overcoming a memorable no-show performance by Robert Parish. They gave up 70 points in the first half and trailed, 70-66, at intermission. Things got worse before they got better. Midway through the third quarter, Detroit led, 86-74 and Boston's four top guards all had at least three personal fouls. Parish didn't score in the first half while Detroit center Bill Laimbeer rung up 18 points (he had 26 total). Parish got one basket in the third quarter, and two more in the fourth, but spent a good part of the evening on the bench.
With four starters on the bench, Boston scored six straight to pull within four (90-86) with 3:12 left in the third. Kevin McHale (25 points) and Scott Wedman keyed the surge and McHale gave the 17,117 an extra thrill when he got into a brief shoving match with Laimbeer. Both players were assessed technical fouls. Detroit led, 96-93, after three. Isiah Thomas came alive with eight points early in the third, but the Celtics fought back and were able to pull even (106-106) with 7:50 left when Thomas picked up his fifth foul and a technical.
The lead changed hands a couple of times after that. Kelly Tripucka, who did a reasonable impersonation of Dave DeBusschere all night, put the Pistons up by three, 116-113, with a bank shot with 3:28 left. Dennis Johnson followed-up a Larry Bird (23 points) miss to cut it to one. With 2:24 showing, Parish woke up and hit a foul-line rainbow to put Boston ahead, 117-116. After McHale rebounded a Terry Tyler miss, Bird canned on from out top to make it 119-116.
The Pistons caled time with 1:44 remaining. Two free throws by John Long cut it to 119-118, and after Parish traveled, Thomas hit a jumper to put Detroit ahead for good, 120-119 with 47 seconds left. The Celtics next chance was blown when Isiah stole the ball from Parish at midcout, got fouled and hit both to make it 122-119. Jones called time with 0:37 showing. Tyler rebounded a miss by Bird, was fouled and hit one with 25 seconds left to make it 123-119. The Celtics called time again. Bird cut it to two, but the Celtics had to foul Tripucka with 16 seconds left and he hit both to make it 125-121. Don Meredith could have started his "The Party's over" at that point.
It would be safe to say that the Celtics were unable to establish the kind of defensive pressure they wanted in the first quarter. A team coached by K.C. Jones is not playing well if it surrenders 38 points in 12 minutes, which is exactly what the Celtics did. Boston trailed, 38-33, after one. Gerald Henderson scored seven of Boston's first 13 points, but he was replaced by Quinn Buckner early because Jones wanted more pressure on Thomas. The lead went back and forth for most of the quarter, but the Pistons took charge on an 8-4 run (led by sub Tyler's six straight) at the close of the quarter.
Detroit center Laimbeer (nine in the quarter, 18 in the half) and Kelly Tripucka (also 18 first-half points) hurt the Celtics underneath. Conversely, the Celtics weren't able to get much under the basket. Parish didn't score in the first quarter, and Cedric Maxwell had only one basket and four points. Ray Tolbert put the Pistons ahead by seven at the start of the second, but the Celtics roared back, scoring eight straight (six by Wedman) to briefly regain the lead, 41-40. The Celtic surge was short-lived, as the Pistons proceeded to rip off eight straight of their own to take a 48-41 lead and force Jones to call time with 7:55 left in the half. Detroit made it ten in a row on another jumper by the unconscious Tyler.
Desperate for some activity, Jones got tagged with his first technical foul of the new regime. Tyler missed the free throw. After the interruption, the Celtics started going inside to Maxwell and McHale. McHale ended up with 14 in the half, which somewhat offset Parish's shutout performance. A bomb by Bird (15 in the half) tied it, 62-62, but Tripucka took over for the Pistons, scoring nine in the final three minutes of the period. Detroit led, 70-66, when the horn went off. It was a particularly scary half because the Pistons had 70 points and a four-point lead even though Thomas had scored only two. K.C.'s first halftime chat must have been a beauty.
With the Celtics taking the court last night in front of the hometown crowd for the first time this season, president Danny Ainge made it a point to show that even though Glen Davis was absent, he is still part of the team. Ainge told the operations crew to include Davis in the pregame introductions. “He made a mistake,’’ Rivers said. “I was mad at the mistake, but he’s still a part of our team. You get upset at your kids and they’re still in the family.’’
LINK
I'm still f'n pissed. But it was a nice touch to mention him in the pre-game last night. All I gotta say is he better have his fat ass on a treadmill.
Shelden was a high draft pick for a reason and he was a dominant player in college for a reason. My job, the staff’s job, is to get that out of him. He has, I think, a great opportunity to do it with this team.
--Doc
Shelden appears to be making an effort to answer my question from opening night.
7:02
The time left on the clock when the 'Cats scored their first basket (and their first points) of the game last night. As Matt just commented, the '85 Bears may be foregoing the hibernation ritual to play basketball this winter.
LINK
It was Augustin who said of the Celtics after the Bobcats stunned them last January, “If you don’t back down to them, they fold.’’ But on a night when the Celtics opened up the Garden for a campaign that’s been labeled by coaches and players as championship or bust by holding their opponents to the lowest-scoring output in the five-year history of the franchise, it was Brown who admitted after being dealt a 92-59 beating that the Bobcats consisted of “a lot of guys scared to death.’’ The Celtics were as intimidating as they had been the last two seasons. Perhaps more so, with the addition of the league’s misunderstood mascot for anger management, Rasheed Wallace.
LINK
A lot of people that come in, they say they’re hungry, well I’m starving. I’m starving every night. I feel like I’ve got to prove something.
--Squisy
You know what I like about the Squeezer? I don't grind my teeth every time he touches the ball out of concern over what will happen next. He was only 1-5 last night. But he still added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in 22 minutes of PT. Marquis Daniels keeps the bone-headed plays to a minimum because he keeps his head in the game, unlike someone else we know. The below video is so great because it captures TA during one of those "he's somewhere else" moments.BTW, I'm really looking forward to what Squisy has to show us on Friday.
Year Three of Getting Shots for Jesus
Other than overcoming double-ankle surgery, the most notable thing about Ray Allen's first year as a Boston Celtic was the team's inability to find him good looks at the basket on a consistent basis. This continued off and on last year. But I think it's safe to say those days may finally be behind us. While Jesus is shooting only 11-33 from the field, every time I look up, he's hoisting another ball, and the shots are shots Jesus has made time and again over his career. This is good. If he keeps shooting at this percentage, or close thereto, you'll hear critics start to talk about him being over the hill. Celtics' fans shouldn't worry too much. A larger percentage of shots will start to fall pretty soon.
2-0: Celtics 92, Bobcats 59
7:30 PM ET, October 28, 2009
TD Banknorth Garden
Boston, MA
| CHARLOTTE BOBCATS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Gerald Wallace, SF | 38 | 3-9 | 0-1 | 4-8 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -33 | 10 |
| Boris Diaw, PF | 25 | 3-7 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -28 | 6 |
| Tyson Chandler, C | 21 | 0-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -25 | 0 |
| Stephen Graham, SF | 29 | 2-11 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -33 | 5 |
| Raymond Felton, PG | 23 | 3-11 | 0-1 | 3-5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 9 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Nazr Mohammed, C | 18 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Vladimir Radmanovic, SF | 5 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +3 | 2 |
| Derrick Brown, F | 21 | 4-9 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 9 |
| Gerald Henderson, G | 25 | 3-7 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -7 | 8 |
| D.J. Augustin, PG | 27 | 0-5 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -30 | 1 |
| Alexis Ajinca, C | 9 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -9 | 4 |
| DeSagana Diop, C | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 23-74 | 0-10 | 13-25 | 14 | 32 | 46 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 23 | 59 | |||
| 31.1% | 00.0% | 52.0% | ||||||||||||
Fast break points: 8 Points in the paint: 28 Team TO ( points off ): 21 (24) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
| BOSTON CELTICS | ||||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Kevin Garnett, PF | 26 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | +34 | 10 |
| Paul Pierce, SF | 25 | 4-9 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +19 | 15 |
| Kendrick Perkins, C | 26 | 4-10 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +27 | 9 |
| Ray Allen, SG | 38 | 6-17 | 4-10 | 2-3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +26 | 18 |
| Rajon Rondo, PG | 30 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +29 | 10 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Rasheed Wallace, FC | 16 | 3-8 | 3-8 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 9 |
| Eddie House, PG | 18 | 3-7 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 7 |
| Marquis Daniels, SG | 22 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | +12 | 2 |
| Shelden Williams, PF | 22 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 8-11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -1 | 12 |
| J.R. Giddens, SG | 8 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +5 | 0 |
| Lester Hudson, G | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +9 | 0 |
| Brian Scalabrine, PF | DNP COACH'S DECISION | |||||||||||||
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | ||
| 33-76 | 11-29 | 15-19 | 10 | 34 | 44 | 27 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 92 | |||
| 43.4% | 37.9% | 78.9% | ||||||||||||
Fast break points: 16 Points in the paint: 28 Team TO ( points off ): 14 (7) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court. | ||||||||||||||
10.28.2009
Will KG Help Wolves Forget Jimmy Rogers Era?
KG's Rookie Year
11/9/1995
On pages 82 to 84 of the Timberwolves media guide is a section called team history. The entries are selective. The dates when Billy McKinney, Bill Musselman and Jack McCloskey were hired are included. The dates when McKinney and Musselman were fired and McCloskey "retired" are not. Apparently the memories from the Jimmy Rodgers Era are too painful. The team's second coach is not mentioned at all.
The history section includes several hallowed moments, including when Target Center was named, Andres Guibert became the first native Cuban to play in an NBA game, and Christian Laettner won three of the highly prestigious ESPY awards - for plays he made in college.It is time to add a new milestone. Next to the date of Nov. 7, 1995, there should be the following entry: "A Timberwolves player about to re-enter the game tells his coach that, for the good of the team, the coach should keep his replacement on the floor."
With 7 minutes to go in the Wolves' 93-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, coach Bill Blair started walking down the bench to consider the possibility of putting starting small forward Sam Mitchell back in the game to replace Kevin Garnett. "Coach, keep him in," Mitchell told Blair. "I see what he's got." The stunning thing was that Blair did not faint.
When was the last time one of his players volunteered to stay on the bench to keep a teammate on the floor? Blair hesitated. "Here?" he said. "This is probably the first time. In Indiana [with the Pacers] it happened all the time. It's part of winning. That's part of the change we're looking for here, guys who think that way." Word out of the Wolves locker room was that after the game, Doug West volunteered to come off the bench if Isaiah Rider continued to play the way he did against the Lakers notwithstanding those golden moments when Rider massages the ball forever and the rest of the offense comes to a grinding halt).
Players volunteering to come off the bench or stay on the bench for the good of the team? This indeed would be mighty refreshing stuff in Minnesota. In Mitchell's case, it also is probable that Garnett may not have given him much choice. Three games into his career, Garnett is not exactly ready for the NBA All-Star Game, but one thing already is apparent: There is nothing in his on-court demeanor or play that suggests he is in awe or overmatched on the NBA stage.
There is certainly nothing resembling the look of sheer terror that often filled the face of Donyell Marshall, last year's No. 1 pick, when he took the court. Garnett does not seem afraid to make a bad play. He plays loose. Late in the Wolves' tense game with the Lakers, Terry Porter, who will be this team's point guard in the fourth quarter, was putting powder on his hands along the sideline during a timeout. Garnett, in a light moment apparently meant to fire up his teammate, slapped the point guard on the butt several times so hard that a shocked Porter, grinning, almost fell over the scorer's table.
"He's not afraid of anything," said Blair. "When he gets beat on a play it's not like he gets destroyed. He comes right back. I don't want to pump this kid up too much but he has a chance to do some really special things. He has a lot of poise for somebody so young." The encouraging thing about Garnett's performance on Tuesday was that he proved he does not have to score points to influence the game. Garnett scored only eight points, but he also had five rebounds, three steals, two assists, a blocked shot, a goaltending call that received the loudest ovation of the night and a handoff pass over the top of Lakers guard Nick Van Exel's head that offered the most amusing moment of the night.
Wolves fans are not accustomed to seeing one of their players elevate and pancake a shot - goaltending or not - with the flair of Garnett. They also are not accustomed to having one of their players palm the ball over the head of an opposing player to hand it off to a teammate. Rarely in a 6-11 player - especially one who is growing up at a time when the highlight shows trumpet the thunderous dunk rather than the pretty pass - do you see the kind of passing instincts Garnett has displayed. This works out well for the Wolves. In the earliest stages of his career, Garnett will be better served if there are not too many scoring demands made of him.
"I love Kevin's passing," said Blair. "The thing about Kevin is he wants to fit in. He wants to work so his teammates accept him. Sometimes, he passes too much. I've been on him lately to shoot the ball more. I almost started threatening to throw the ball at him if he didn't shoot more. It's a nice problem to have." When the Wolves drafted Garnett, there was much discussion about bringing the high school kid along slowly, limiting his minutes to 18 to 22 a night, maybe less. There will be nights when this indeed should be the case, nights when he looks every bit the teenager he is, and looks nowhere nearly as effective as he looked Tuesday night.
But forget the notion that the Wolves need to protect the tender psyche of a player one year out of high school so that he is not overwhelmed and his confidence is not shattered. Garnett already looks unbreakable. Mitchell, even if it ends up being at his own expense, got it right in his selfless message to Blair: Do not hold this kid back because the book says you should. Play him. A lot.
11/9/1995
On pages 82 to 84 of the Timberwolves media guide is a section called team history. The entries are selective. The dates when Billy McKinney, Bill Musselman and Jack McCloskey were hired are included. The dates when McKinney and Musselman were fired and McCloskey "retired" are not. Apparently the memories from the Jimmy Rodgers Era are too painful. The team's second coach is not mentioned at all.
The history section includes several hallowed moments, including when Target Center was named, Andres Guibert became the first native Cuban to play in an NBA game, and Christian Laettner won three of the highly prestigious ESPY awards - for plays he made in college.It is time to add a new milestone. Next to the date of Nov. 7, 1995, there should be the following entry: "A Timberwolves player about to re-enter the game tells his coach that, for the good of the team, the coach should keep his replacement on the floor."
With 7 minutes to go in the Wolves' 93-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, coach Bill Blair started walking down the bench to consider the possibility of putting starting small forward Sam Mitchell back in the game to replace Kevin Garnett. "Coach, keep him in," Mitchell told Blair. "I see what he's got." The stunning thing was that Blair did not faint.
When was the last time one of his players volunteered to stay on the bench to keep a teammate on the floor? Blair hesitated. "Here?" he said. "This is probably the first time. In Indiana [with the Pacers] it happened all the time. It's part of winning. That's part of the change we're looking for here, guys who think that way." Word out of the Wolves locker room was that after the game, Doug West volunteered to come off the bench if Isaiah Rider continued to play the way he did against the Lakers notwithstanding those golden moments when Rider massages the ball forever and the rest of the offense comes to a grinding halt).
Players volunteering to come off the bench or stay on the bench for the good of the team? This indeed would be mighty refreshing stuff in Minnesota. In Mitchell's case, it also is probable that Garnett may not have given him much choice. Three games into his career, Garnett is not exactly ready for the NBA All-Star Game, but one thing already is apparent: There is nothing in his on-court demeanor or play that suggests he is in awe or overmatched on the NBA stage.
There is certainly nothing resembling the look of sheer terror that often filled the face of Donyell Marshall, last year's No. 1 pick, when he took the court. Garnett does not seem afraid to make a bad play. He plays loose. Late in the Wolves' tense game with the Lakers, Terry Porter, who will be this team's point guard in the fourth quarter, was putting powder on his hands along the sideline during a timeout. Garnett, in a light moment apparently meant to fire up his teammate, slapped the point guard on the butt several times so hard that a shocked Porter, grinning, almost fell over the scorer's table.
"He's not afraid of anything," said Blair. "When he gets beat on a play it's not like he gets destroyed. He comes right back. I don't want to pump this kid up too much but he has a chance to do some really special things. He has a lot of poise for somebody so young." The encouraging thing about Garnett's performance on Tuesday was that he proved he does not have to score points to influence the game. Garnett scored only eight points, but he also had five rebounds, three steals, two assists, a blocked shot, a goaltending call that received the loudest ovation of the night and a handoff pass over the top of Lakers guard Nick Van Exel's head that offered the most amusing moment of the night.
Wolves fans are not accustomed to seeing one of their players elevate and pancake a shot - goaltending or not - with the flair of Garnett. They also are not accustomed to having one of their players palm the ball over the head of an opposing player to hand it off to a teammate. Rarely in a 6-11 player - especially one who is growing up at a time when the highlight shows trumpet the thunderous dunk rather than the pretty pass - do you see the kind of passing instincts Garnett has displayed. This works out well for the Wolves. In the earliest stages of his career, Garnett will be better served if there are not too many scoring demands made of him.
"I love Kevin's passing," said Blair. "The thing about Kevin is he wants to fit in. He wants to work so his teammates accept him. Sometimes, he passes too much. I've been on him lately to shoot the ball more. I almost started threatening to throw the ball at him if he didn't shoot more. It's a nice problem to have." When the Wolves drafted Garnett, there was much discussion about bringing the high school kid along slowly, limiting his minutes to 18 to 22 a night, maybe less. There will be nights when this indeed should be the case, nights when he looks every bit the teenager he is, and looks nowhere nearly as effective as he looked Tuesday night.
But forget the notion that the Wolves need to protect the tender psyche of a player one year out of high school so that he is not overwhelmed and his confidence is not shattered. Garnett already looks unbreakable. Mitchell, even if it ends up being at his own expense, got it right in his selfless message to Blair: Do not hold this kid back because the book says you should. Play him. A lot.
First of all, they are a good team. Boston is a great team. They took us out of a lot of our sets that we have been working on in practice. They made us get into a lot of hot situations, meaning late clock and a lot of one-on-one basketball. They are a really good defensive team.
--LeBron
It's really hard to dislike the King. In a fight between his mom and Paul Pierce during a heated playoff series, James sides with Paul Pierce. Last night he bowls over Pierce on the way to the hoop as the game is inching closer in the fourth quarter, and you can see James mouthing the words "good call" after the refs ticket him for a charge. Not even vaguely reminiscent of that one guy from the other coast.
I’m telling you, man, I don’t have any hesitations when it comes to playing. Healthwise, I’m very decent and I’m very strong. It’s a process. It’s not a sprint. I’m a lot better at being patient with all this. Sometimes I’m thinking you all are expecting I’m dead or something. I’m far from dead. Believe that.
The Ticket
I was just thinking the same thing last Spring. It took me 35-years of being a Celtics' fan. But you've got to learn to be patient. 82 games is MF'n long time.
The principals on both sides understand that this was only the beginning of a very long journey. By the next time they meet, in 121 days, we will have gone through Thanksgiving, Christmas, Elvis’s Birthday, the Super Bowl, and the Washington’s Birthday automobile sales. The Cavs will be a little more familiar with themselves by then.
--LINK
I'm still pissed at Baby. But if you count out 8 weeks, that gets him back in time for both Lakers' games and the rest of the games against the Cavs. I'll be curious to see who gets more PT between now and 1/1/10, Shelden Williams or Brian Scalabrine.
Kevin Garnett, replaced by Williams with 2:08 left in period one, sat for the next 9:37. When he returned the team was up by 3 (41-38), having outscored the Cavs by a 24-10 margin “The second unit saved the game for us and the first unit won it,’’ Doc Rivers later said.
--Bob Ryan
Baby Broke his Hand in a Fight, but It's KG who Can Take a Punch
On a night when Boston Celtics' reserve forward Glen Davis was recovering from surgery to a thumb he broke during a fight on Sunday, it was Kevin Garnett who proved he could take a punch against the Cleveland Cavaliers. I lost track of how many times he was knocked to the floor during last night's contest at the Q. Two? Three? Four? Maybe more. But each time, he got up, dusted himself off and continued on with the action. I expect this sort of thing to continue.
Back when Kobe was having problems with one of his fingers, a reporter asked Doc about it. "I wouldn't want to be Kobe," was Doc's response. "Why?" The reporter asked. "Because players will start going after it when they defend him." KG's knee is gonna get similarly tested.
Back when Kobe was having problems with one of his fingers, a reporter asked Doc about it. "I wouldn't want to be Kobe," was Doc's response. "Why?" The reporter asked. "Because players will start going after it when they defend him." KG's knee is gonna get similarly tested.
Jo Jo White: C's May Go 78-4
I've now watched this video twice (scroll down after the link), mostly because at the 3:27 marker Heidi Watney asks Jo Jo White to make a win prediction. "They might lose 4 games . . . all year," White responds. I'm sticking with a 59-win prediction, but 68-14 would be nice, tying the franchise record set in 1972-73.
The Bench +34, the Starters -4
![[bench.bmp]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF52WCbVJAuiT85YTmqOej-Zvu5BlrjSyqpiF4RVdtnOIsWnFjJqPdfZ0_X9xP_VC7xqHL0wp7OyphobzK9kvJxObXKE2w4waVD3-l5MoZhmLhIDOjf9GH0f_BFuEoiGPKsjCCPCxU/s1600/bench.bmp)
Yesterday I asked whether the Boston Celtics' bench might outperform the starters on occasion this year, and last night we started to get our answer. The Celtics bench was a +34 for the game, while the starters were a -4. The bench committed only 3 turnovers, while the starters committed 11, which the Cavaliers translated into 16 points.
Of course, the bench played fewer minutes than the starters, and were matched up against the Cavaliers' bench. But the scenario I described otherwise played out. The Celtics' first team started slow, falling behind quickly and by a lot. Danny Ainge compared this team to the mid-80s Celtics last year, and it is even more true this year. What he meant was that the starters aren't going to get too worked up in the first quarter, even if they fall behind by a bunch. Instead, they'll just keep playing their game until they've worn you down and retaken the lead.
The bench, by contrast, enters the game on a mission. They're coming in to outplay the opponent, make their mark, and prove their mettle. This was totally lacking last year, and will make a huge difference this year. Paul Pierce acknowledged after the game that the bench got them back in the contest.
Oh yeah. One more thing. Shelden Williams didn't hurt us too much or otherwise get in the way.
Sheed's First Night In Green Much Better than Walton's
10 Points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 Steal, 0 turnovers. Not a bad first outing for Sheed, much better than the one we got from Bill Walton, who called his first game in green "a total disgrace to the game of basketball." With seven turnovers in a short stint, I think I'd have to agree with the Mountain Man.
The 3-Ball from Squisy
It was a classic case of Celtic Nation yelling Nooooooooooo at their television sets until the ball dropped through the net. The funny thing about the three-ball from Squisy is that it actually looked like he knew what he was doing. Prior to that shot, it always looked like he was aiming and not shooting, trying to measure out in his head just how far from the basket he was standing before letting go of the ball, kind of like a golfer trying to get it close to the cup. This shot was different.
Number one, it looked like a confident shot from a real shooter, someone in the NBA who's taken shots from range and made them during big games. Number two, the shot didn't have that Keith Wilkes heave look to it. Instead, Squeezer had the elbow out, firm, and the follow-through was smooth.
If Marquis Daniels improves his three-point accuracy above 30-percent, imagine what that would do for his ability to take to the rack.
Number one, it looked like a confident shot from a real shooter, someone in the NBA who's taken shots from range and made them during big games. Number two, the shot didn't have that Keith Wilkes heave look to it. Instead, Squeezer had the elbow out, firm, and the follow-through was smooth.
If Marquis Daniels improves his three-point accuracy above 30-percent, imagine what that would do for his ability to take to the rack.
10.27.2009
1-0: Celtics 95, Cavaliers 89
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| P. Pierce | F | 37:59 | 6-13 | 2-5 | 9-10 | +1 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| K. Garnett | F | 33:05 | 5-10 | 0-0 | 3-4 | -4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| K. Perkins | C | 25:42 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 1-1 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| W. Allen | G | 42:21 | 5-16 | 2-4 | 4-5 | +4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| R. Rondo | G | 34:29 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| R. Wallace | 23:50 | 4-9 | 3-6 | 1-2 | +10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |
| M. Daniels | 17:33 | 3-5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | +11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| S. Williams | 12:30 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 4-4 | +7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| E. House | 12:30 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 0-0 | +6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
J. Giddens  | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| L. Hudson | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| B. Scalabrine | NWT- Right Ankle Sprain | |||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 32-72 | 9-19 | 22-26 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 20 | 27 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 95 | ||
| 44.4% | 47.4% | 84.6% | Team Rebs: 12 | Total TO: 16 | ||||||||||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) |
| Field Goals | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| L. James | F | 44:55 | 12-22 | 4-9 | 10-13 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 38 |
| A. Varejao | F | 32:50 | 3-9 | 0-0 | 3-4 | -6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| S. O'Neal | C | 28:48 | 5-11 | 0-0 | 0-2 | +2 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| A. Parker | G | 40:10 | 3-9 | 2-3 | 2-2 | +3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| M. Williams | G | 35:02 | 3-8 | 0-3 | 6-6 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Z. Ilgauskas | 24:39 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 4-4 | -2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| D. Gibson | 13:42 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-1 | -4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| J. Hickson | 06:13 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| J. Moon | 13:41 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | -9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| D. Jackson | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| C. Karl | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| J. Williams | DNP - Coach's Decision | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 240 | 29-70 | 6-17 | 25-32 | 6 | 26 | 32 | 17 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 89 | ||
| 41.4% | 35.3% | 78.1% | Team Rebs: 10 | Total TO: 14 | ||||||||||||
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