November 22, 1997
John Calipari said he wants his Nets to have a rivalry with the Celtics. But what the coach should be worried about this morning is the Nets' rivalry with an unlikely opponent: the Nets.
Things got so bad during last night's 101-93 loss to the Celtics that at halftime, teammates Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling nearly came to blows. Anyone who watched the second quarter shouldn't have been surprised. Gatling busted a play and got an earful from Cassell. So as Gatling went to his spot on the post, he elbowed his teammate.
November 23, 1997
He is already on a first-name basis with his colleagues, teammates, fans, and everyone else. The name certainly is different - Kobe. The individual is certainly different, too.
The rampaging Lakers make their only visit to Boston this week, and Kobe Bryant arrives with a package so terrifyingly dynamic and explosive that he already is drawing comparisons to, well, I'm not going to say it. Most people liken him to Grant Hill, but Bryant is a hungry carnivore compared with the Pistons' cerebral Mr. Intel. No, the player people are seeing when they watch Bryant happens to play for the Chicago Bulls - and it isn't Joe Kleine. That's all you have to know, and this is not an Adidas spin.
November 23, 1997
Pervis Ellison had five of the Celtics' 10 blocked shots in Friday's 101-93 victory over the New Jersey Nets, and the center seems to have found his defensive niche. He has 14 rejections this season.
"Pervis is one of the best shot blockers in the game," said coach Rick Pitino. "For his knees, he has great timing. He's a very long basketball player, so he's got excellent terror when it comes to shot blocking."
November 24, 1997
This was a situation made for Rick Pitino's system. Give me your tired and weary and we will press them to death. That is exactly what happened last night; the schedule-maker gave the Celtics a wet kiss. And the result is a Celtics team finally above the water line, learning to swim instead of sinking like a stone.
November 29, 1997
He's known Wilt, Elgin, Jerry, Oscar, Kareem, Michael, Willis - let's face it; he's known 'em all, including Pat Riley, who accused him of spying on a Laker practice session in 1985.
The Celtics, well, what do you think? He was pretty tight with Bill Russell, and then rolled through the years with Sam, K.C., Hondo, Cowens, Larry, Kevin, Chief, D.J. and the current bunch. Satch Sanders gave Spider his restaurant for his daughter's wedding reception.
November 22, 1997
It was one of two 3-pointers Antoine Walker registered for the Celtics last night. This one came with 3:07 remaining in the game, just seconds left on the 24-second clock.
Walker stood high on the right wing, away from Greg Minor, who held the ball at the top of the key. Walker kept his eye on the clock while calling out Minor's name. There were just six seconds remaining on the possession when Minor heaved it Walker's way.
November 25, 1997
There's a revealing sign above the entrance to Whelan's Strength Training in Washington, D.C.: "If you train here, you are not normal."
Call up the office and you hear an ominous message about commando-tough training, high-intensity stuff clearly not for the faint of heart or, for that matter, for the non-zealot.
November 22, 1997
They are mechanics in basketball shorts. They are the ones who make sure the expensive machinery is running properly. They tweak and plug and shine, making good things very good. It's subtle stuff, but very necessary.
November 21, 1997
It's the time of year when rivalries dominate the news. Harvard-Yale. Michigan-Ohio State. Celtics-Nets.
Well, as Meat Loaf once lamented, two out of three ain't bad.
November 20, 1997
Forty minutes later, he was still heated. He had been ejected, his best player had been ejected, his team had been statistically disrespected, and where oh where was that four-game winning streak?
Everyone should have known Rick Pitino would not be happy after last night's game at Continental Airlines Arena. His team's good fortune fizzled on the arena's copycat parquet. The Celtics lost to the Nets, 108-100.
Be careful what you say.
November 15, 1997
Despite recent rumors to the contrary, Chauncey Billups looked like a keeper last night.
Celtics coach Rick Pitino has spent much of his off-court time denying reports that he is trying to unload his No. 1 draft pick, who had been dismissed as being unable to play the point in Pitino's frenetic system.
November 15, 1997
He says he feels no guilt. None. Marcus Camby shredded the NCAA code of conduct, then took the money, and left the University of Massachusetts holding the bag. But he says his conscience is clear.
November 14, 1997
Rick Pitino says he doesn't lie. He just reserves the right to change his mind.
Rick Pitino says he doesn't lie. But he might, you know, exaggerate a little bit.
Understand?
November 13, 1997
It was a night that forced you to declare your NBA philosophy. Are you a victory-at-any-price type? Or are you a discerning critic, one who demands that your basketball team be trimmed at the edges and polished just right?
The Celtics' 96-86 win over the Nuggets at the FleetCenter last night would have helped you work out your position. It was a 48-minute conversation piece played before 15,760 people. What kind of conversation was it? Well, once again, it depends on your interpretation.
November 13, 1997
Remember: It's all in the knees. That's what Antoine Walker told himself last night. And when he wasn't saying it, Rick Pitino was screaming it from the sideline. "Knees, Antoine, knees."
That's knees, as in "bend your knees." Pitino had mentioned that he might bring in a shot doctor if Walker didn't improve his free throw shooting. He went into last night's game a 53.5 percent shooter. But he made 10 of 11 in the Celtics' 96-86 win over the Nuggets. His knee form was nearly perfect.
November 12, 1997
This is where the Celtics' long-range shooting offense is now: Their 7-foot center, who really is a small forward, is their best 3-point shooter among the starters.
Not any of those scrappy, gunning guards. Not any of the sleek, Kentucky-credentialed forwards.
November 12, 1997
Dana Barros is sixth on the Celtics in minutes per game, but he was 12th in the last game. As in, he didn't get off the bench.
Barros said yesterday that he hasn't been in that position since his early days in Seattle. This is one individual who is used to playing, who once played in 167 straight games. He's hoping to start a new streak tonight against the Nuggets.
"I'm taking it day by day," Barros said. "It's early, man. I'm not down about it. I've been through a lot over my career, and this is not a big ordeal. I'm just going to have to fight for time and play hard in practice."
Barros started the first two games before yielding to Chauncey Billups. His time Saturday went to the activated Tyus Edney, who had 11 points and 10 assists in 26 minutes.
Coach Rick Pitino reiterated yesterday that he feels Edney is his best pure point guard and is in the mix for his backcourt of the future. He also mentioned Billups, Ron Mercer, and, yes, Barros as possibilities.
November 10, 1997
This is an NBA movie. It's called "Three Men and a Basketball" and it's a true story. It is a Rick Pitino Production, written, directed and produced by the Celtics coach. We can tell you the plot in one line: Three point guards are auditioning to be the point guard who gets the bulk of the minutes in Pitino's rotation.
November 9, 1997,
They've got a shuffling checklist. It's sort of like a compact disc player set to random. The Celticsare going to give you something. You just aren't sure what it's going to be.
They were at the Bradley Center last night to meet the explosive Bucks. Despite a 105-96 loss, they had coach Rick Pitino complimenting them on their passing and shooting. So if passing and shooting were problems in previous games, what was there to complain about last night?
November 9, 1997
The Celtics have a point guard problem. Quite simply, they have too many. What that meant last night was a first for Dana Barros: A DNP-CD in the Celtics' 105-96 loss to the Bucks.
Rick Pitino raved about Tyus Edney (11 points, 10 assists) after the game. He also was pleased with parts of Chauncey Billups's game, although the coach was incensed when he wanted a timeout after a Milwaukee hoop and Billups instead lost the ball. So with 26 minutes for Edney and 22 for Billups, that left none for Barros.
Any reason?
