They're both 6-5 with stocky builds. They both do a little bit of everything, but are great at nothing, though each could fill up the basket on any given night. Each player spent some time playing overseas, though Gamble played mostly in the CBA before signing with the C's.
Kevin Gamble was given a shot to earn minutes at the point. I suspect the same will be true of Dionte Christmas. In the end, both may be remembered as "energy guys" who can help enliven the aging team around them.
Showing posts sorted by date for query rondo magic. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query rondo magic. Sort by relevance Show all posts
9.27.2020
Decent value at the 5-spot
June 17, 2007
Assessing next week's NBA draft, some have said that picks No. 3 through 15 are of similar quality, if not completely interchangeable.
But don't tell that to the Celtics, who are mulling over a list of seven and possibly eight players in the event they keep the fifth pick.
Assessing next week's NBA draft, some have said that picks No. 3 through 15 are of similar quality, if not completely interchangeable.
But don't tell that to the Celtics, who are mulling over a list of seven and possibly eight players in the event they keep the fifth pick.
8.26.2020
Grousbeck has Faith
September 19, 2010
If the Celtics had fallen in the first or second round of the playoffs, exhibiting a feeble effort from an aging team, the decision would have been easy. Instead, they sliced through the Heat, pounded the Cavaliers, and jumped to a 3-0 lead over the Magic before winning the Eastern Conference finals in six games. So a decision to dismantle the Big Three and rebuild wasn't so simple, and the painful Game 7 loss to the Lakers gave ownership even more reason to retain the core of the roster.
If the Celtics had fallen in the first or second round of the playoffs, exhibiting a feeble effort from an aging team, the decision would have been easy. Instead, they sliced through the Heat, pounded the Cavaliers, and jumped to a 3-0 lead over the Magic before winning the Eastern Conference finals in six games. So a decision to dismantle the Big Three and rebuild wasn't so simple, and the painful Game 7 loss to the Lakers gave ownership even more reason to retain the core of the roster.
8.15.2020
C's Rally from 27 Down
January 27, 2012
ORLANDO, Fla. — Perhaps this is what growth is all about. This is what playing without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neal can do for a team. This is also what a 27-point second-quarter hole can do for a team that knows it can do better.
The Celtics, facing all of those conditions last night against the Magic team they beat by 31 points on Monday, roared out of their hole with last night's 91-83 win at the Amway Center.
5.04.2020
17-2 Celts Make it 9 in a Row
December 2, 2008
One by one, they dribble toward the Garden seeking to claim the throne now occupied by the Celtics.
And one by one, they have been turned back, unable to cross the moat that separates them from the defending champions. Nothing, of course, will get decided for this season until the snows fall and then melt into spring, but at the very least, the Celts are getting across the point that they're well-equipped to fight eviction from their castle.
One by one, they dribble toward the Garden seeking to claim the throne now occupied by the Celtics.
And one by one, they have been turned back, unable to cross the moat that separates them from the defending champions. Nothing, of course, will get decided for this season until the snows fall and then melt into spring, but at the very least, the Celts are getting across the point that they're well-equipped to fight eviction from their castle.
3.23.2020
Big Three become Old Three as Era Nears Close
May 12, 2011
MIAMI - It was fun while it lasted.
They made the NBA relevant in our town once again, bringing back the pride and mystique of the golden days of Russell and Red. They reintroduced NBA America to the Celtics-Lakers rivalry that burned with Magic and Larry in the '80s. They won 234 regular-season games, got to the Finals twice, and broke a 22-year championship drought when they hung banner No. 17 in the rafters. The schooled us in Ubuntu. Anything was possible.
MIAMI - It was fun while it lasted.
They made the NBA relevant in our town once again, bringing back the pride and mystique of the golden days of Russell and Red. They reintroduced NBA America to the Celtics-Lakers rivalry that burned with Magic and Larry in the '80s. They won 234 regular-season games, got to the Finals twice, and broke a 22-year championship drought when they hung banner No. 17 in the rafters. The schooled us in Ubuntu. Anything was possible.
3.16.2020
O'Neal Combo May Debut Tonight
December 25, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Celtics' plan when they signed Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal over the summer was to have two veteran giants at their disposal, choosing which of the 7-footers would start and which would be the reinforcement.
But Jermaine O'Neal has been out since Nov. 8 nursing a sore left knee, getting fitted for brace after brace. Shaquille O'Neal has missed nine games because of a bruised right calf. Yet both should be healthy enough to play today against the Magic, which means the Celtics finally will have their two biggest free agent additions on the floor at the same time for the first time since October
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Celtics' plan when they signed Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal over the summer was to have two veteran giants at their disposal, choosing which of the 7-footers would start and which would be the reinforcement.
But Jermaine O'Neal has been out since Nov. 8 nursing a sore left knee, getting fitted for brace after brace. Shaquille O'Neal has missed nine games because of a bruised right calf. Yet both should be healthy enough to play today against the Magic, which means the Celtics finally will have their two biggest free agent additions on the floor at the same time for the first time since October
12.30.2019
Robinson Re-Ups
July 17, 2010
Although he wasn't on the conference call, it seemed Celtics president Danny Ainge overheard Paul Pierce express disappointment in the team's offseason moves, or lack thereof
Ainge yesterday secured point guard Nate Robinson, once considered to be a poor fit in the Celtics system, to a two-year contract extension worth $9 million with performance bonuses, according to two NBA sources. Robinson generated little splash as a free agent, but a two-year deal provides stability after years of career uncertainty.
Although he wasn't on the conference call, it seemed Celtics president Danny Ainge overheard Paul Pierce express disappointment in the team's offseason moves, or lack thereof
Ainge yesterday secured point guard Nate Robinson, once considered to be a poor fit in the Celtics system, to a two-year contract extension worth $9 million with performance bonuses, according to two NBA sources. Robinson generated little splash as a free agent, but a two-year deal provides stability after years of career uncertainty.
1.27.2019
Get Ready, America: It's Gonna Be all Purple and Green
Get Ready, America: It's Gonna Be all Purple and Green
6/1/2008
The last time the Celtics were in the NBA finals, Ronald Reagan was president, you could fill your gas tank for less than a monthly mortgage payment, the Soviet Union, not the baseball team that plays in the Bronx, was considered the evil empire, people actually listened to ABBA, and all of the Ramones were still alive.
That's a long time ago.
6/1/2008
The last time the Celtics were in the NBA finals, Ronald Reagan was president, you could fill your gas tank for less than a monthly mortgage payment, the Soviet Union, not the baseball team that plays in the Bronx, was considered the evil empire, people actually listened to ABBA, and all of the Ramones were still alive.
That's a long time ago.
12.24.2018
Rondo Goes for 16, 10, and 5 in 23 Minutes
4/12/2008
How do you Spell Championship? R-O-N-D-O
Sam Cassell was asked what it would mean to the Celtics in the postseason if he and fellow point guard Rajon Rondo played consistently as well as they did in last night's 102-86 victory over Milwaukee. His reply? "Championship."
How do you Spell Championship? R-O-N-D-O
Sam Cassell was asked what it would mean to the Celtics in the postseason if he and fellow point guard Rajon Rondo played consistently as well as they did in last night's 102-86 victory over Milwaukee. His reply? "Championship."
5.18.2018
Win Number 59
4/2/2008
Win Number 59
CHICAGO - With the Pistons more or less throwing in the regular-season towel, the Celtics got one step closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Celtics defeated the Bulls, 106-92, at the United Center last night as their All-Star trio combined for 59 points. Ray Allen scored a team-high 22, Kevin Garnett had 20, and Paul Pierce added 17.
Win Number 59
CHICAGO - With the Pistons more or less throwing in the regular-season towel, the Celtics got one step closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Celtics defeated the Bulls, 106-92, at the United Center last night as their All-Star trio combined for 59 points. Ray Allen scored a team-high 22, Kevin Garnett had 20, and Paul Pierce added 17.
5.16.2018
C's Add Hornets to List of Vanquished
3/29/2008
C's Add Hornets to List of Vanquished
The entire league has now succumbed to the Celtics.
With last night's 112-92 win over the New Orleans Hornets at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics have beaten every team in the NBA.
C's Add Hornets to List of Vanquished
The entire league has now succumbed to the Celtics.
With last night's 112-92 win over the New Orleans Hornets at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics have beaten every team in the NBA.
4.14.2018
KGless C's Lose to Magic
1/28/2008
KGless C's Lose to Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. - Often during Celtics games forward James Posey yells from the bench, "We got Tickets," in tribute to forward Kevin Garnett after he makes a big play.
Yesterday, for the first time this season, Posey couldn't yell anything about "The Big Ticket," as Garnett missed the game with an abdominal strain. But the Magic still needed a 25-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer by Hedo Turkoglu to defeat the battered Celtics, 96-93, at a sold-out Amway Center.
"We had tickets, but we didn't have 'Tickets,"' Posey said.
Said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy: "They didn't have Kevin Garnett and we hit a miracle shot at the end. It was enough to win."
Garnett was hurt in the fourth quarter of a win over Minnesota Friday night but returned for the end of the game. While he still had hopes of suiting up during the bus ride to the arena yesterday, he was told firmly by coach Doc Rivers that he would not play.
"I knew we were going to come out and play hard," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who had a team-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. "This group has a lot of resiliency regardless of who is on the court. There are no moral victories. But this was a game we could have seen ourselves winning regardless to who was on the court."
The Celtics are dealing with their worst string of injuries this season.
Forward Brian Scalabrine had 1 point and one rebound in 22 minutes in place of Garnett in the starting lineup after missing Friday night's game with the flu. Point guard Rajon Rondo (15 points, 6 steals) went to the locker room for a bit early in the third quarter to have his slightly sprained right ankle taped.
Posey had 16 points, four 3-pointers, and six rebounds in his return after missing three games with a sprained finger on his right hand. Reserve guard Tony Allen (2 points) played with a right eye scratch suffered against Minnesota and left the arena with a Band-Aid over the eye. Center Scot Pollard is out indefinitely with a right ankle sprain.
"We are banged up right now," Rivers said. "When Rajon went down, I grabbed them and said, 'Hey, I got great news for you. No practice Monday because we don't have enough bodies, so you might as well lay it on the line.' They started laughing.
"I figured at that point we might as well break the ice. Everyone was feeling a little bit sorry for themselves."
The Celtics led, 46-43, at halftime after receiving 19 points and six rebounds from Pierce. Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard had 10 of his 18 points, 10 of his 16 rebounds, and 2 of his 5 blocks in the first half.
Orlando shot 60 percent from the field and nailed five 3-pointers in the third quarter to outscore Boston, 32-19, to take a 75-65 lead. Magic reserve forward Brian Cook scored 11 points and hit three treys in the quarter.
Boston opened the fourth with a 16-7 run finalized by two Posey free throws to trim its deficit to 82-81 with 5:49 remaining. The Magic responded with a 9-3 run capped by a 20-foot jumper by Turkoglu (a game-high 27 points) to take a 91-84 lead with 2:41 left.
Ray Allen's lay-in sliced Boston's deficit to 91-88 with 1:13 left but two free throws by Turkoglu gave Orlando a 93-88 advantage with 58.9 seconds remaining. Rondo's lay-in with 43.9 seconds left got the Celtics within 93-90, and after Rondo's athletic steal of a pass from Orlando guard Carlos Arroyo, Ray Allen nailed a 3-pointer in front of the Magic bench to tie the game at 93 with 14.1 seconds remaining.
"I kept telling them to hang in there, hang in there, cut the lead, and when it got closer and you're on the road the home team gets tight, not the road team," Rivers said. "I just kept telling them, 'One basket at a time."'
Howard and Rashard Lewis (15 points) are viewed as the Magic's stars. But with 24 points at that point, the Magic turned to Turkoglu. He responded by nailing a deep 3-pointer over Pierce's outstretched hand.
"I didn't want to settle on a jumper," Turkoglu said. "I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul. But they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot.
"It was a tough shot to take over Pierce and it was from long range. I'm glad it was right there today and I was able to make it."
Rivers, the Eastern Conference All-Star coach, joked that he was going to call the NBA to take back his All-Star vote for Turkoglu.
"We played well enough to win," Rivers said. "A guy makes a fadeaway from 4 feet behind the [3-point line] on the last play. I was really proud. I thought we took them out of what they were trying to run. Turk turned around and made a tough shot. I can live with that."
KGless C's Lose to Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. - Often during Celtics games forward James Posey yells from the bench, "We got Tickets," in tribute to forward Kevin Garnett after he makes a big play.
Yesterday, for the first time this season, Posey couldn't yell anything about "The Big Ticket," as Garnett missed the game with an abdominal strain. But the Magic still needed a 25-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer by Hedo Turkoglu to defeat the battered Celtics, 96-93, at a sold-out Amway Center.
"We had tickets, but we didn't have 'Tickets,"' Posey said.
Said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy: "They didn't have Kevin Garnett and we hit a miracle shot at the end. It was enough to win."
Garnett was hurt in the fourth quarter of a win over Minnesota Friday night but returned for the end of the game. While he still had hopes of suiting up during the bus ride to the arena yesterday, he was told firmly by coach Doc Rivers that he would not play.
"I knew we were going to come out and play hard," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who had a team-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. "This group has a lot of resiliency regardless of who is on the court. There are no moral victories. But this was a game we could have seen ourselves winning regardless to who was on the court."
The Celtics are dealing with their worst string of injuries this season.
Forward Brian Scalabrine had 1 point and one rebound in 22 minutes in place of Garnett in the starting lineup after missing Friday night's game with the flu. Point guard Rajon Rondo (15 points, 6 steals) went to the locker room for a bit early in the third quarter to have his slightly sprained right ankle taped.
Posey had 16 points, four 3-pointers, and six rebounds in his return after missing three games with a sprained finger on his right hand. Reserve guard Tony Allen (2 points) played with a right eye scratch suffered against Minnesota and left the arena with a Band-Aid over the eye. Center Scot Pollard is out indefinitely with a right ankle sprain.
"We are banged up right now," Rivers said. "When Rajon went down, I grabbed them and said, 'Hey, I got great news for you. No practice Monday because we don't have enough bodies, so you might as well lay it on the line.' They started laughing.
"I figured at that point we might as well break the ice. Everyone was feeling a little bit sorry for themselves."
The Celtics led, 46-43, at halftime after receiving 19 points and six rebounds from Pierce. Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard had 10 of his 18 points, 10 of his 16 rebounds, and 2 of his 5 blocks in the first half.
Orlando shot 60 percent from the field and nailed five 3-pointers in the third quarter to outscore Boston, 32-19, to take a 75-65 lead. Magic reserve forward Brian Cook scored 11 points and hit three treys in the quarter.
Boston opened the fourth with a 16-7 run finalized by two Posey free throws to trim its deficit to 82-81 with 5:49 remaining. The Magic responded with a 9-3 run capped by a 20-foot jumper by Turkoglu (a game-high 27 points) to take a 91-84 lead with 2:41 left.
Ray Allen's lay-in sliced Boston's deficit to 91-88 with 1:13 left but two free throws by Turkoglu gave Orlando a 93-88 advantage with 58.9 seconds remaining. Rondo's lay-in with 43.9 seconds left got the Celtics within 93-90, and after Rondo's athletic steal of a pass from Orlando guard Carlos Arroyo, Ray Allen nailed a 3-pointer in front of the Magic bench to tie the game at 93 with 14.1 seconds remaining.
"I kept telling them to hang in there, hang in there, cut the lead, and when it got closer and you're on the road the home team gets tight, not the road team," Rivers said. "I just kept telling them, 'One basket at a time."'
Howard and Rashard Lewis (15 points) are viewed as the Magic's stars. But with 24 points at that point, the Magic turned to Turkoglu. He responded by nailing a deep 3-pointer over Pierce's outstretched hand.
"I didn't want to settle on a jumper," Turkoglu said. "I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul. But they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot.
"It was a tough shot to take over Pierce and it was from long range. I'm glad it was right there today and I was able to make it."
Rivers, the Eastern Conference All-Star coach, joked that he was going to call the NBA to take back his All-Star vote for Turkoglu.
"We played well enough to win," Rivers said. "A guy makes a fadeaway from 4 feet behind the [3-point line] on the last play. I was really proud. I thought we took them out of what they were trying to run. Turk turned around and made a tough shot. I can live with that."
2.21.2018
C's Rout Suns, Move to 56-15
3/27/2008
C's Rout Suns, Move to 56-15
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce blocked out the Suns last night.
Garnett scored 30 points and Pierce had 27 in the Celtics' 117-97 victory over Phoenix at sold-out TD Banknorth Garden.
C's Rout Suns, Move to 56-15
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce blocked out the Suns last night.
Garnett scored 30 points and Pierce had 27 in the Celtics' 117-97 victory over Phoenix at sold-out TD Banknorth Garden.
12.24.2017
Anticipation: 4 Games, 5 Nights, 2 Time Zones
12/25/2007
It's finally here - an honest-to-goodness Road Trip. Most of the teams in the Eastern Conference have ventured into the Mountain and Pacific time zones this season. Every team but the Celtics and Bobcats has had at least one road game against a Western Conference foe.
It's finally here - an honest-to-goodness Road Trip. Most of the teams in the Eastern Conference have ventured into the Mountain and Pacific time zones this season. Every team but the Celtics and Bobcats has had at least one road game against a Western Conference foe.
12.23.2017
Shorty Stepping Up
12/24/07
When the game film from this one gets passed around from team to team, there is going to be a collective imbibing of hemlock across the NBA. Rajon Rondo, the man Kevin Garnett affectionately refers to as "shorty," is now making threes, too? Who's next, Leon Powe?
When the game film from this one gets passed around from team to team, there is going to be a collective imbibing of hemlock across the NBA. Rajon Rondo, the man Kevin Garnett affectionately refers to as "shorty," is now making threes, too? Who's next, Leon Powe?
12.09.2017
What Ever Happened to the Fire Doc Websites?
12/19/07
At the nadir of the Doc Rivers Era, frustration came in an unflattering and unfiltered form. The Celtics were in the midst of a 101-77 loss to the New York Knicks early last season when a large group of fans at the TD Banknorth Garden began calling for the firing of the Celtics coach.
At the end of the Boston bench, where Celtics players heard the clamor, the chorus was even crueler.
Laughter.
At the nadir of the Doc Rivers Era, frustration came in an unflattering and unfiltered form. The Celtics were in the midst of a 101-77 loss to the New York Knicks early last season when a large group of fans at the TD Banknorth Garden began calling for the firing of the Celtics coach.
At the end of the Boston bench, where Celtics players heard the clamor, the chorus was even crueler.
Laughter.
11.26.2017
82-0 Comes to an End in Loss to Magic
11/19/2007
ORLANDO, Fla. - Dreams may come true down the road from here at Disney World. But even the biggest Celtics fans couldn't have thought their team would be perfect all season.
"We're not going 82-0," coach Doc Rivers said.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Dreams may come true down the road from here at Disney World. But even the biggest Celtics fans couldn't have thought their team would be perfect all season.
"We're not going 82-0," coach Doc Rivers said.
9.04.2017
July 31, 2007: The Day Danny Resurrected the Boston Celtics
August 1, 2007
Christmas Day. Graduation Day. Wedding Day. The day you got your first good job. The day you moved into your dream house. The day your first child was born.
And then there's July 31, 2007. The day Boston sports fans were rewarded with a stunning shower of gifts.
Christmas Day. Graduation Day. Wedding Day. The day you got your first good job. The day you moved into your dream house. The day your first child was born.
And then there's July 31, 2007. The day Boston sports fans were rewarded with a stunning shower of gifts.
2.06.2017
Remembering the 29-3 Start
The Celtics are 29-3. Take a step back and reflect on that utterly astonishing record. They could go .500 the rest of the way - which would be a dramatic dropoff from the way they are playing - and still finish with 54 wins. They are (a) a Paul Pierce 3-pointer (which he's been known to make on occasion), (b) two Ray Allen free throws (money) and (c) a silly Tony Allen foul from possibly being 32-0. Conversely, they also are (a) a Sam Vincent brain cramp (a beauty), (b) a Dwyane Wade jumper (which he's been known to make on occasion), and (c) some Chauncey Billups free throws (money) from being 26-6.
To what do we attribute such astounding success, other than the fact that the Celtics are playing really, really well? Here are a few possibilities.
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