Blount Benched

November 28, 2005
DNP-CD. That was Mark Blount's fate Friday night, a surprising one given that he had started the first 11 games of the season and had no inclination that Game No. 12 was going to be any different. But he lost his starting job to Kendrick Perkins and never took off his sweats the rest of the night.

Allen Iverson: Danny Likes What He Sees

November 20, 2005
Is there anyone playing better basketball, anywhere, than Allen Iverson?

"I've never seen him play better," Boston basketball boss Danny Ainge said. "Right now, he's the best player in the conference." 

Celtics fall to Pistons

November 16, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Once again, the Celtics proved they could play with the Pistons. But not for an entire game.

After leading by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, the Celtics were doomed by foul trouble, turnovers, a stagnant offense, and the hot hand of Detroit point guard Chancey Billups. When it was all said and done, the Pistons defeated the Celtics, 115-100, last night to remain the only undefeated team in the NBA. 

Antoine Gone, But Ainge Got a Lot in Return

November 06, 2005

The release of Curtis Borchardt Oct. 27 did more than just finish off the Celtics' roster. It also pretty much closed the book on Antoine Walker's two stays in Boston. While Toine may still hold the city and the Celtics dear in his heart, he can now look back and know that whatever transpires in the next few years will be in large part thanks to him and to the assembled multitudes that Danny Ainge acquired in his three deals involving Employee No. 8.

Ainge Promises to be Active in Free Agency

July 1, 2005 For the record, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge discussed the impending start of free agent negotiations as he traveled around the Boston area yesterday. He was not headed for Logan Airport for a late flight to some undisclosed location to woo an available big-name player such as Ray Allen or Michael Redd or Donyell Marshall or Stromile Swift.

The defense needs work

November 20, 2005
And now for the hard part. The Celtics finished arguably the easiest stretch of their schedule one game below .500 after defeating Toronto Friday night and enjoyed yesterday off from practice. Over the next two weeks, they will face the fast-starting Cavaliers on the road and the Atlantic Division-leading Sixers at home.

LeBron too Much for C's

November 23, 2005
CLEVELAND -Too much LeBron James. There really is no other way to describe what happened to theCeltics last night.

Just as the Celtics put themselves in position to tie the Cavaliers in the third quarter, James went to work, scoring 15 of his 36 points and sending Cleveland on its way to a 115-93 victory.

Ricky Davis Returns to Cleveland

November 23, 2005
CLEVELAND - The boos came early and often, every time Ricky Davis touched the ball. They grew louder every time he put up a shot or got called for a foul. With 2.1 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the vulgar chants started in one end of the Quicken Loans Arena.

Much-maligned when he played for the Cavaliers, Davis expected the unkind reception, though he filled about 18 ticket requests for friends and family last night. Almost two years removed from his days in Cleveland, Davis has put that controversial time behind him. 

"I've had a good game [playing for Boston in Cleveland]," said Davis. "I haven't really had a great game. It's fun being back in Cleveland, somewhere you've played, getting all the boos and the cheers, you know, all the animosity. It's fun. When you leave on a down note and come back on an up note, it's a great feeling to be in the gym."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers wants Davis focused on defense and changing speeds when he plays.

"We still work on him about defensive things where he gets lost," said Rivers. "He plays hard, but sometimes he blows assignments. But the one thing is, when you correct him, he does it.

"Offensively, this year, we're trying to get him playing at different gears. That has not been so successful yet because he's so damn fast, he's thinking he can beat him with speed. He can, but sometimes the speed dribbles him into traffic and into turnovers.

"If we can get him to play at different gears, I think he can become an unguardable force in our league."

Rivers went on to call Davis a future All-Star, with one caveat: The Celtics have to win more.

"Unless you're a big winner, I don't think you should have more than one on your team," said Rivers. "That's an old-school thought. I believe Detroit should have three and they only had one. We've got to correct that, so send that message out to coaches."

Allen stays behind

Contrary to what he told reporters last week, Tony Allen will not return to practice today. He did not even make the trip, remaining in Boston along with Marcus Banks (stress fracture left leg). According to Rivers, Allen will spend the rest of the week working with strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo, then undergo an MRI on his surgically repaired right knee. The concern now is with a bone bruise that occurred at the same time he tore his meniscus. Rivers expects Allen back practicing with the team Tuesday and guesses he could be activated in two to three weeks. Allen played Gerald Green one-on-one Monday after practice and, according to Rivers, looked "terrific." Said Rivers, "If he looks like he looked the other night, it could be pretty quick, but who knows? But a one-on-one game against Gerald Green is completely different than a five-on-five game against everybody. I would say two or three weeks, but I don't know that. I'm just throwing that number out."

Floating forward

There may be no bigger Drew Gooden fan outside Cleveland than Rivers, who coached the power forward in Orlando. "The thing that you love about Drew is he's tenacious," said Rivers. "He's never going to stop trying to rebound. The only negative with him is you've got to try to keep him inside of who he is. Sometimes he floats into being Magic [ Johnson ] and sometimes he floats into being Jerry West in his mind. Other than that, he's great." Gooden entered last night leading the Cavaliers with 9.2 rebounds per game, which was 17th in the league . . . Paul Pierce has a love-hate relationship with Cleveland fans. Recently, it's been more hate, especially after an exhibition game in Columbus, where Pierce allegedly spat at the Cavaliers bench. "I don't know why the fans don't like me," said Pierce. "I thought they liked me. I bought a guy popcorn and hot dogs one year. I played with the Moondog [mascot]. I thought they liked me. It's entertainment sometimes. Sometimes you've just got to have fun with it." . . . Here's one for the trivia books: Rivers's son, Austin James , is named after two members of the Cleveland teams of the 1970s: Austin Carr and Jim Brewer (currently a Celtics assistant) . . . Rivers was a little perturbed that Brewer was not represented in the commemorative wall decorations around the Cleveland arena that honored great players from the past. "Who did this wall?" said Rivers. "What about guys that helped this team win?" . . . Damon Jones left the game with 10 minutes 50 seconds left in the half with a sprained ankle and did not return.

Paul Pierce for Ray Allen?

June 2, 2005

OK, everyone. Exhale. We've all had some time to stand back and examine the current state of the Celtics with a little less emotion and a little more practicality. Does that make Paul Pierce's Game 6 antics any less horrifying? Not really, but when you're talking about business sense, you better make sure you get something of equal value if you plan on shipping him out of town. For all his warts (including a maddening defensive indifference, at times), Pierce is still a big-time talent who can rebound and pass and fill it up. I don't see anyone who is available that offers the same skills. Ray Allen is a nice player, but he's no Paul Pierce.

Almost December and C's Still can't claim back-to-back wins

November 29, 2005
Wouldn't it be loverly? A simple winning streak? You know, where one win actually follows another? Is that too much to ask, especially when the games are at home and against opponents who can make nonrefundable reservations for May?

Apparently, at this point in time, it is too much for the Celtics.

Whispers of the "R" Word at Waltham

November 27, 2005
WALTHAM - No one likes to mention the "r" word around the Celtics' practice facility. Coach Doc Rivers and executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge know the stigma attached to the word "rebuilding."

Who are the Celtics Fooling?

November 27, 2005
If only Mark Blount were the problem. But he's not. Far from it. The problem goes well beyond one player.

We have been conditioned by Celtics ownership, management, and even, to some extent, the players themselves to wait and wait. The party line is and has been: have patience and wait for the kids to develop. That line of thinking doesn't end with the wishful-thinking folks at Banner 17, either. A lot of national writers and broadcasters feel the same way.

Raef and Pierce Close out Win

November 26, 2005
After a lot of hard work, the final Celtics play could not have been easier. Paul Pierce inbounded the ball to Raef LaFrentz at the top of the arc. LaFrentz set a pick and quickly handed it back to Pierce, who drove left around the paint and scored the winning layup.

Doc Starts Perk, Sits Blount

November 26, 2005
The Celtics coaching staff dramatically shook up the lineup last night against the Bobcats, starting Kendrick Perkins instead of Mark Blount .

It may have helped as the Celtics pulled out a thrilling win, 90-89.

The Raefster is No Pervis

November 26, 2005
Raef LaFrentz did a little bit of everything for the Celtics last night.

He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game in the final minutes. He won a jump ball in the final seconds. He helped execute the play that set up Paul Pierce's winning layup. 

KP Needs more PT

November 25, 2005
If Celtics coach Doc Rivers had to pick one mistake out of the "probably 50" he acknowledged making against Atlanta, it would be the lack of playing time allotted to Kendrick Perkins.

Celtics Hand Hawks First Win

November 24, 2005
ATLANTA -- It had to happen sooner or later. Unfortunately for the Celtics, last night was the night the Hawks earned (in the broadest sense of the word) their first victory of the season with a 120-117 win.

Delonte Day-to-Day with Hip Pointer

November 23, 2005
CLEVELAND -- Suffering from a left hip pointer, Delonte West hobbled through the visitors' locker room after the Celtics' 115-93 loss to the Cavaliers last night at Quicken Loans Arena. When it was suggested that he looked like an old man, West replied, "I feel like an old man."

Big Al Out of Shape

November 21, 2005
When the Celtics practice, Doc Rivers always sees that the players are given a chance to rest. Well, not all of them. Al Jefferson still keeps working, trying to get back into shape, regardless of what his teammates are doing.

"I'm sure he thinks it's for some other reason," Rivers said. "But it's not. He's not in shape." 

Grand Jury Indicts Tony Allen

November 17, 2005 A Cook County grand jury indicted Tony Allen on three counts of aggravated battery for his alleged role in a fight that escalated into a shooting at the White Palace Grill in the West Loop Aug. 28. Allen heard the indictment yesterday during a preliminary hearing held in Chicago. According to his lawyer, Michael Zaslavsky , Allen expects to enter a plea of not guilty at his Dec. 6 arraignment. Aggravated assault carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.