As I was doing the game thread for the Miami game, I was thinking of how the mighty have fallen and how fleeting success in the NBA. It was just 2 years ago that the Heat were NBA champions and Antoine Walker was offering Paul Pierce playoff tickets to watch him play. He told Pierce that he would have to leave Boston if he wanted a chance at a championship. Today, Pierce is on the best team in the league and favored to win the championship and Walker is racking up DNP's on the Timberwolves who have an 18-53 record. The Heat have the worst record in the league at 13-59 and are shutting down players to be sure they stay in first place for the most lottery balls. Celtics castoffs Ricky Davis and Mark Blount are now the Heat's best players. Pretty sad. I wonder if Pierce will return the favor and offer Walker some playoff tickets.
KG is absolutely one of the most intense athletes I have ever seen. In the Hornets game, he got down into a crouch and on all fours when guarding David West. You can hear the crowd getting riled up when he does it. It certainly got his teammates going too because they totally shut down the Hornets after this. (hat tip to Dybdal from CelticsBlog for the video)
The funny thing about it is that when they asked KG about it, he said he didn't remember doing it.
“The messed-up thing is that sometimes I do things on the floor that I don’t even remember, and that might have been one of them."
Apparently Powe and KG had quite a battle in practice in preparation for the two of them guarding West. Now, that would be worth the price of admission.
So he and Leon Powe - the two players sent after West last night - went at each other hard in practice Thursday.
“In my mind, this game started (Thursday) in practice,” Garnett said. “He had 37 in New Orleans, and I took that a little personally.”
For a time, he also took the sight of Powe personally.
“It was pretty intense between me and him,” Powe said. “I was kind of surprised, but (coach Doc Rivers) really let us go at it. Both of us gotjavascript:void(0) Publish Post better on defense because of that.”
Rajon Rondo has my vote for most improved player this season. He sat on the bench behind both Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West for much of last season and only at the end of the season he started to get more playing time. This year he is the starter on a championship contender. Last year the knock on him was that he couldn't shoot but this season he consistently hits jumpers when he is open. I can't think of another player who has improved as much. He has been incredible in just his second season.
After the great game against the Hornets with several fantastic plays from the Celtics including a great alley oop jam by KG on a feed from Perk. I mean when your center sets up your power forward for an alley oop, that is special. Then there was the monster dunk by KG to start the 3rd. A couple of circus shots by both Rondo and Pierce. And the alley oop from Rondo to Powe for the dunk. The game was full of special plays. But yet, on the top 10 plays of the day, there wasn't a single one of the Celtics. The Celtics still don't get any respect.
The Celtics have 10 games left: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, Charlotte, Milwaukee (twice), Atlanta, Knicks and Nets. Of those games, only Washington has a winning record and the Celtics will be motivated to beat them as they are one of only 3 teams that have beaten the Celtics twice this season (Orlando and Cleveland being the other two). But, it may not be as big a cakewalk as it seems. Many of those games are on the road. Atlanta, New Jersey, Indian a and Chicago are all fighting for those last 2 playoff spots. All 4 of those teams are going to be giving it their all every night because any losses just might knock them out of the playoffs. Any one of those 4 teams may be a preview of the first round playoff matchup and we don't want to give them any idea that they might have a chance against us.
Here are comments found around the Hornets boards during their game with the Celtics. When all else fails, blame the refs. I agree that the officiating was bad, but it was bad both ways. Kenny Mauer hates the Celtics and those two calls on Perk that got Doc the technical were as bad as any against the Hornets. The call on West was bad, but the Celtics out played the Hornets with or without the refs.
Rondo sat out practice with a sore hamstring,but he's likely to play from the way I read it.
Rondo's playing. This game is going to be tough, I hope the Hornets come out ready to play.
It doesn't matter if rondo plays or not. Paul is gonna pwn him mark it down
I watched a lot of the C's/ Suns game the other day and Boston really pulled away in the third, PHX had no answer after that. Rondo was finishing around the basket really well and KG kinda took over down the stretch.
I think Perkins can be their weakness if we get him running after Chandler all game, I think he is liable to give up some easy hoops under pressure. Apart from that though they are very strong, and their bench is dangerous.
I hope the team understand that they can't go in Boston and start digging themselves in a hole. This time I don't think they will come out.
Unfotunately I have to listen to Boston's ridiculous commentators again......big game tonight..big game....gotta win..push for 1st.
This will be a very tough game tonight.
<--- very scared about this game.
Have I ever mentioned that these announcers are the worst in the league? The Celts NEVER do anything wrong, ever. I have never liked these announcers. Worse than the Portland and Clippers guys, whom I'd rate 2nd and 3rd worst, respectively!
Rondo is owning us
Boston is getting almost all the calls and no-calls early. Oh, and these Boston guys really want to see Paul not do well. I need a barf bag!
Worst announcers in the league in my opinion. Everything the Celtics do is spectacuar and everything the hornets do is just ordinary. I get they want the C's to win but they are just annoying. Peja drills a deep 3 and they talk about how good the defense was.
I don't mind biased commentary, you got to expect it, but there is a difference between being biased and being a ridiculous homer
I still love u PJ!!
Mvp chants for garnett ...what a joke
Those MVP chants for KG were weak, we do a hell of a lot better at the N.O. Arena for Paul.
Hornets need to keep this game close, I think we can beat them in the 4th.
Pierce for mvp??? Yeah you mite be alone on that one Gorman!
Everytime the Celtics foul, the refs come back with a phony call on the Hornets.
Paul Pierce for MVP!?!?!? He just lost all credibility.
Boston is getting physical with the hornets...
Sombody need to tell the Boston bench to stay off the court
Technical fouls Keep it up Boston!! LOL
Boston gets frustrated when teams can play with them
Foul on west? Are you kidding me? He was pulled down to the floor by the jersey!
These refs are killin us!!!!!! Come on let em play!
This is going to get away from the hornets...the Celtics are playing some dirty ball
Boston has really turned up the juice this quarter...we need to match their physicality
Refs are gone stupid! Everything is against us!
I'm thinking these refs were paid.
What the heck is west trying to do...he's costing us the game not the refs
That's game...we played well. But we cant play against the Celtics and the refs. The refs have completely lost their minds. After all the Celtics crying they are giving them all the calls.
4th quarter is our time...I actually think we're lucky to only be down 13, they were shooting us out of the building, and dwest is on the bench with 5 fouls I'm real sick of the Boston announcers. Tommy h can take his tommy points and shove them where the sun don't shine
Boston just made more adjustments at half and came out playing great defense, there shots are falling but their defense is the real reason they went on a run and they got some questionable calls.
They cannot keep shooting this well
The Celtics are playing with some crazy intensity.
This game got personal and hasn't been in our favor since rivers technical.
Boston's bench is always on the court is seems like.
Boston wouldn't be this good in the West. They play cupcake teams. Their only challengers are(should be) Detroit, Orlando, Cleveland... that's it! The Hornets have: Lakers, Suns, Rockets, Mavs, Spurs, Nuggets, Warriors, AND the Jazz. I want Boston to have to play those teams every couple games and see how many wins they'd have. How good would Boston be if they had to play in a conference that had 9 teams on pace to win 50+ games. I doubt they'd be that good. Let the Hornets play the Knicks, Heat & Bobcats 4 times a year... that's 12 wins right there.
Boston brought out an intensity in the 2nd half that we clearly could not match. They really wanted to beat us. We should take that as a compliment. Next time, I hope we punch the Celtics right back in the mouth.
Can you honestly tell me that the Hornets wouldn't be better if they got to play the Knicks, Bobcats & Heat 2 extra times? Can you honestly say that the Celtics would be that good if they had to play the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, Rockets, Mavericks, Nuggets, Jazz, Suns, and Warriors 2 extra times? I doubt anybody(other than their announcers) can honestly say that.
I'm not one to ***** about the refs but they where pretty bad tonight. Right after Doc Rivers got T'd up everything started going Boston's way. After D-West got called for a foul because he was being pulled to the floor I just switched it an never went back knew they didn't have a prayer after that and I'd either throw the remote at the TV or teach the little ones all sorts of new words.
Home cooking at it's finest tonight in Boston. They need to take the Refs to dinner after they "let" Boston beat the Hornets.
Now I see why Boston has the best record in the nba...I see how dirty they play....all of them
I'm not buying it. The Hornets are being overagressive and not having much luck. Some of the calls are questionable, but it's gone both ways. The Hornets are losing because they're not composed (Paul? Byron? come on) and just lost it in the second half on the road. Boston doesn't have the NBA's best record because the refs give them games.
I agree 100% with your post. The Celtics are intimidating the Hornets big time tonight. I give them credit for that. Scott did NOT coach well tonight at all. This is what worries me when playoff time comes along.
The foul calls weren't that bad. The refs are not a reason why we lost. Boston brought out a championship like intensity in the 2nd half and we didn't match it. It helped that Boston was mad from last week. We didn't have that extra fuel to get going like the C's did. It's cool. Unlike most WC teams, we actually got one on the C's. I would have taken 1-1 against them.
After we beat the Celtics, there were people on the Celtics boards who were convinced the only reason the Celtics arent undefeated are because of the refs. No, seriously.
In the last two games, the Celtics have made a huge statement. Both the Suns and Hornets were teams that beat the Celtics on the road and both may be teams that we could see in the finals. The Celtics used big 3rd quarters in both games to earn blow out wins. With the win tonight over the Hornets, the Celtics have now beaten every team in the league. Message Sent: The Celtics are for real and will be a force to contend with in the playoffs.
The Hornets played the Celtics fairly even in the first half and had a 60-56 lead at halftime. But, the Celtics came out focused and with intensity in the third quarter and blew the game open. After Perk got two cheap fouls called on him, Doc picked up a technical and the team just pulled away and never looked back. I hope never to see Kenny Mauer officiating another Celtics game. This guy really doesn't like us. KG set the tone for the second half with great defense on David West. The first play of the second half was a great alley oop pass from Perk to KG for an emphatic dunk. He dove out of bounds on several plays to save the possession and at one point, he landed in a kid's lap in the first row. Not nearly as scary as seeing Big Baby (or Shaq) coming at you. KG finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block. Perk had 7 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist in 21 minutes.
Rondo once again held his own against Chris Paul and showed that he belongs among the elite point guards in the league. When he was left open, he hit the open shots and played great defense on Paul. Rondo finished with 17 points on 8-10 shooting to go with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Ray Allen played only 26 minutes after logging 45 against the Suns and had 12 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists and hit a couple of big shots to help turn the momentum. Pierce had another all around game, matching KG's intensity in the 3rd quarter. When he was doubled consistently found the open man as he finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Tony played 20 minutes and was the first player off the bench as Ray picked up 2 quick fouls in the first. He finished with 6 points, 2 assists and 1 steal. He played aggressively and drove to the hoop along with playing good defense. There was a scary moment when he leaped to block an alley oop from Paul to Chandler and landed hard on the court. He stayed down as play continued on the other end of the court. He got up slowly but seemed to be ok. House had 8 points and 1 assist as the back up point guard. Sam Cassell didn't play in this game.
Leon Powe once again made the very most of every minute he was in the game. He finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and a block in 19 minutes. He took a couple of charges and played great defense. One of the better plays of the game was when he got an alley oop pass from Rondo for a dunk. PJ Brown played 10 minutes after DNP's in the last 2 games and finished with 2 points and 1 rebound. Big Baby played only 7 minutes and didn't get on the stat sheet. James Posey didn't score, but played good defense, pulled down 4 rebounds, and took a big charge.
The Celtics dominated this game in just about every way. They shot 60% from the field while holding the Hornets to 44%. They out rebounded the Hornets 40-29. They hit 20-22 free throws with only Rondo and KG missing one each. Pierce was 13-13 from the line. The Celtics outscored the Hornets in the paint 56-30. Both teams took very good care of the ball with just 13 turnovers between them. The Celtics had only 6 while the Hornets committed only 7.
With this win, the Celtics have now beaten every team in the league at least once. They also have earned the biggest one season turn around in Celtics team history. They have swept the Lakers, Rockets, Spurs and Mavericks. They have answered every challenge this season as a team and individually. With nothing left to prove in the 10 remaining games, the will be tuning up their bench, trying to rest the starters a little more, and building momentum going into the playoffs. The magic number for home court advantage in the East is 4 and for the entire playoffs is 5. It sure is a fun time to be a Celtics fan.
Rondo's week of challenges continues tonight. He hurt his hamstring during the Phoenix game. He sat out practice as a precaution but Rondo is insisting that he is good to go on Friday. Let's hope he is right because the one player we can't afford to lose is Rajon Rondo. We go 7-2 without KG and 6-2 without Ray Allen, but without Rondo, we wouldn't make it. Does that make him the MVP? In case you missed them, here are two of Rondo's plays from the last two games. To the opposing point guards: be afraid.... be very afraid!
During the Suns game, with about 8 minutes to go in the 4th, I checked the standings on NBA.com and they had already updated them with a Celtics win. Now, that is faith, especially after the 4th quarter collapses in the two previous games. I just thought it was pretty strange that they had already put it down as a Celtics win.
I loved the play where Leon Powe shot from his knees against the Suns and was fouled. The more I see of this kid the more I really like him. I hope that he doesn't get squeezed out of the rotation because he brings good things every time he gets on the floor.
The press conference after the Suns game was worth the price of admission. After Pierce finished talking about how KG turned the franchise around, KG covered Pierce's mouth so that he couldn't keep talking and said WE changed it… WE… he can sit up there and talk all that individual bulls***… he can talk all that bull*** he wants… WE… WE helped change it… have a good night everybody. And then, they both walked off. Tanguay was sputtering when they cut back to the studio and was apologizing for the language and I am sure KG will hear about it since I know that must have been one of the things they were told not to do in their interview classes. I love KG's emphasis on team. No individual agendas. Just team. Pierce and KG seem to have a mutual admiration society going on. Poor Ray is left out but he has done as much as anyone to help turn this around and it isn't just his game winners. He has also taken Rondo under his wing and under his tutelage, Rondo's shot is looking much better. He spreads the floor so that it makes things easier for the other players. And let's not forget that without the Ray Allen trade, there probably wouldn't have been a KG trade. Here is a video of the press conference that is making the rounds of the blogs. It begins with another look at Rondo's terrific move around Steve Nash and then shows the press conference.
Doc sure is good at double speak. A day after coming out and saying that he wasn't going to change the rotation and rest the starters, he did just that. Then, right after saying he was going to play his bench more, he played Ray Allen 45 minutes and did just the opposite of what he had just said he was going to do. I was pretty puzzled to see Ray out there with a 20 point lead and only 30 seconds left after he had played pretty much the whole game.
I am still reading Celtics Pride by Bob Ryan I am at the spot where the Celtics are playing Milwaukee in the playoffs and it is talking about the coach, Tommy Heinsohn, making adjustments and changing the offense from game to game so that even though the Bucks had thoroughly scouted the Celtics, they didn't know what to expect from them. Coaching becomes so much more important in the playoffs, even with 3 superstars. We don't yet know how Doc will do in a 7 game series. He has never won one and was completely out coached in the last playoff series that the Celtics were in against Indiana. I am really hoping that Doc is up to the challenge, but that concern is always in the back of my mind. We have one huge advantage in that defense wins in the playoffs and, thanks to Tom Thibodeau, the Celtics have the best defense in the league.
When O'Neal was done speaking to the media mass, I went over and asked him if I had heard what I thought I heard. Did he really say he'd take Stoudemire over Garnett, especially after Garnett had put a Ziploc bag on Stoudemire in the second half? We know that one of Shaq's missions in Phoenix is to bump up Stoudemire, but this seemed to be a bit far-fetched.
"They've got the same numbers," O'Neal said. "Yeah, I would."
For MVP? This year?
"Yeah."
But Garnett is anchoring the best defensive team in the NBA and has totally transformed the Celtics.
"Garnett doesn't play defense," Shaq said.
Hmmmm. Kevin Garnett doesn't play defense. Can you imagine what this team would be like if KG did play defense?
Finally, I was gathering the links and got to ESPN and much of the coverage there was on the draft and I just went past it. At this time last season Celtics fans were pouring over draft coverage and hoping for the #1 pick and discussing who we were going to pick. The playoffs were just an afterthought for someone else. It sure feels good to be able to ignore the lottery talk and instead, talk about who we might face in the finals. For the first time in over 20 years I am actually excited about the playoffs with a legitimate chance at the championship. Yes, it sure feels good.
Here are comments found around the Suns boards during their game with the Celtics. These are definitely more fun to read when we win. I love the projected starters from the game thread. I actually think the refs have been against the Celtics more than they have been for them. For the most part they have been horrible both ways.
Suns match up very well against Boston.
I really wan't the Suns to win this game seeing as how I hate Boston.
Celtics Projected Starters: [PG] Rajon Rondo [SG] Ray Allen [SF] Paul Pierce [PF] Kevin Garnett [C] Kendrick Perkins [Referee] #1 [Referee] #2 [Referee] #3
This'll probably be another close one. It'll be slow and very physical. But I think we'll be okay because of Shaq. I hope we jump on 'em in the 1st quarter. It'll be nice to get an early lead (and hopefully keep it).
KG vs Amare Interesting match up.
Last time Pierce was terrible, don't think that'll happen this time. Bet our guys come in fired up for this 1, after the Piston ref joke show... Hope Amare doesn't let KG get his head, just like last time.
I noticed a lot in the last week, pierce does the thing where he locks arms with another player and intentionally spins so it looks like the other guy was hugging him and gets called for a foul
If he does that against the suns, he will quickly go in as one of my most despised players in the NBA, I hope the refs are ready and onto it for this one or else it could have a big factor
Oh yeah, amare KG will be huge, I think KG is going to be overly phsyco pumped for this one like a UFC fighter with roid rage (I swear garnett must be bipolar or something) I saw last week the dude was punching HIMSELF in the face???!!?? Dude should be suspended for assaulting an NBA player
All that self chest-smashing got his torso beat up so bad, dude's just gotta go after a diff part of his body now. Wonder which body part he'll go after next
This would be the most gratifying pre-playoff game to win, against a Celtic team that has dominated the West and to do it on their floor, the prettiest floor in the NBA.
If Suns are going to beat the Celtics today they will do it only by outrebounding them. If we outrebound them for 48 minutes then we got a W.
Hopefully we see a preview of the NBA finals tonight
Refs suck already. Bad call on Nash, HORRIBLE call on Perkins.
Suns are sloppy, but on the other hand Celts playing excellent d Nice to see amare-shaq tandem in work
Nice flop by Nash. He was on the position though..
Wow........Boris fouling someone who's shooting from his knees like a Globetrotter.........
The ç's are owning us in the paint, seems like we came out with no energy tonight
Our team defense is pretty bad right now, the Celtics have so many weapons.
This is too easy for Amare. Can anyone out there play decent D vs the beast? Too damn good.
Someone get a gun and cap all these refs. Horrfic
The NBA.. Where Eastern Conference officiating happens.
Thought Nash was still moving, that wasn't a bad call. The ref T'd him up way too quick though.
I liked how bavetta tried to save Nash from the technical
That was just retarded by Nash. We were in the penalty right? If we werent he should have fouled him Rajon just embarrased him.
What a way to end the half, rondo just dribbled the whole damn length of the court and layed it right in to tie it up.
Shaq has gotten his legs back under him. Perkins is a legit body to have to bang against down low.
I don't know how we can expect to be a championship contender when our MVP is constantly getting outplayed by the likes of Rajon Rondo
Rando is killing us!
This is unreal. That's a tech on Shaq for wiping a guys arm off of him? So what the **** are you supposed to do when a guys is hanging on you? Get him a cup of tea?
Just brutal, amare got shut down.
Cmon Pierce.. No need to flop at this point... You just look like a moron.
Amare should never leave KG open.....seriously.
Nice to see Paul peirce can travel and dish the ball with a no call
Talk about giving up. The Celtics broke their spirits in the 3rd quarter. That's downright embarrassing.
4 minutes to go and nba.com has already updated the standings with a Boston win and a Suns loss.
It's funny that everyone jumped on Boston for having a bad supporting cast. What I wouldn't give to have guys like Rondo, Davis, Powe, Perkins and Posey replacing Barbosa and Diaw.
Freaking Hornets pulled it out again with 1 second...damn....That team scares me more than the Lakers, Suns, or Celtics
Wow Ray Allen still in the game up 20 with 30 secs left the Suns went to scrubs with 3 mins left
I'll never understand why we got rid of Rondo.
dantoni said at the time he didnt want a PG who couldnt shoot the 3 and given how well marcus banks worked in our system, its easy to see why
The Celtics got a convincing 117-97 win over the Suns to even their series at 1 apiece. They played the first half even with the Celtics getting out to a big lead in the first and the Suns fighting back to tie the game at the half. But, in the third, the Celtics came out with swarming defense and put the game away.
There were two amazing plays in the game. One, was Leon Powe grabbing a rebound and then shooting from his knees as he drew the contact. Powe finished with 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal in 12 minutes. The other play was Rondo just freezing Nash in the lane as he faked one way and then the other and then just went around Nash to take it in for a layup. The ESPN announcers were just gushing over that play. Rondo had a very strong all around game and proved once again that he is equal to any task. He finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal.
Pierce came on strong in the second half and in 3 possessions he got 4 points and an assist as he hit 2 pull up jumpers and the third time he drove baseline and kicked out to KG at the top of the key for a jumper. He finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Ray Allen had another solid game with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 8 assists.
KG had a very good game and pretty much shut Amare down in the second half on defense while finishing with 30 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. Perk had a very strong game with a double double. He worked very hard all game muscling Shaq on the block for position and did a good job against him. He finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block. I have to say in this game, Rondo outplayed Nash and Perk out played Shaq.
Posey was back in the lineup and pitched in 6 points and 6 rebounds. Shaq was quoted as saying that without Posey in Miami, that team didn't win the championship. On one play, Posey hit a big 3 while getting shoved out of bounds and then completed the 4 point play. Big Baby played big and at one point, he missed a layup, got his own rebound, missed again, and got his own rebound, all the time getting hammered by the defense, and then finally he kicked out to Pierce for a jumper from the top of the key. House came in and brought some energy off the bench, finishing with 6 points. Sam played only 6 minutes and had 2 points. Tony played only 2 minutes and pulled down 1 rebound. PJ Brown didn't play for the second game in a row.
The Celtics shot 52% while the Suns shot 56% but it was rebounding that made the difference. The Celtics out rebounded the Suns 41-27. Also, the Suns had 21 turnovers to only 14 for the Celtics. The Suns only had 2 fast break points while the Celtics had 10. The Celtics scored 54 points in the paint to 44 for the Suns. I was very much puzzled by the fact that with the Celtics up 20, Ray Allen was still in the game at the end. He played 45 minutes. If it was a close game, I could see playing him, but with a big lead, Doc should have had him on the bench.
I hate ESPN games when they give you "Bonus Coverage." Tonight they cut away to the Hornets/Cavs game for about 5 minutes. If I wanted to watch that game, I would have tuned into that game. I wanted to watch the Celtics. I mean, it was an exciting finish, but I wanted to see what the Celtics were doing. Now, there is only one team that the Celtics haven't beaten and they are coming to the Garden on Friday. If the Celtics play defense like they did tonight, they will win that one too.
Here are comments from around the Sixers boards during their game with the Celtics.
The Celtics have handled us with ease this season and there's no reason to believe that'll stop here. I'm all for drinking the Kool-Aid and hoping our team will win this one but occasionally we need to sober up a bit and separate fact from fiction hence...
The Celtics are the best team in the league right now. Their interior defense is terrific. I think they beat us again they just have too many weapons right now against us. Next year with an extra year of development for Thad and another piece in free agency we should match up better against them.
I think what you see right now in the East is what the final standings will be...That being said I don't think it's such a bad thing because Philly probably matches up best with Detroit. There seems to be something missing with Detroit this year and I just don't fear them like previous years.
This is a game in which everyone expects the Sixers to lose, maybe even the Sixers ... So, maybe they fight just a little harder and stay in the game and then .... Who knows ... Maybe Pierce gets in foul trouble ... He is the only really game closer they have ... And the Sixers impose their will at the end and .... WIN !!!
You should see these guys on the Celtics pregame show. One is a complete jerk, and the other just doesn't know basketball.
Tanguay is just a flat out jerk, and it seems Marshall is just paid to be a uninformed huge, huge homer. Marshall said that Iguodala "can score with the best of them."
The Celtics are good enough to blow anyone out in a short period of time.
Sam Dalembert is dumb.
How do you know that ?
Cause I am watching Leon powe play like Kobe Bryant
Garnett is getting fired up now. Prepare for the cursing in front of children.
And who the hell is on Leon Powe?? I'm listening to the radio feed and all I hear is "Leon Powe!!"
I see Leon Powe with 12 points. I am surprised by that guy. He's been scoring a lot lately.
Pierce is starting to take his shots now. He is really the heart and soul of the Celtics. When they need a score, he will get it for them.
Do you guys mind if I just bash the Celtics for the rest of the game? I hate this team so much.
I swear Pierce always kills us and yet we always leave him open. But that goal tend was hilarious, that's what you get for all your first pumping and swearing at children.
Once again the the 76ers can not stop the trays from Ricky Pierce nor can they stop Leon Powe.The 76ers are doing pretty good for a team that really does not have the talent to match up with Boston.
I would love to have Perkins as our center. He does all the little things and does not overestimate his own skil set.
Well, this is the formula for the Sixers beating the Celtics. The Celtics feel (and rightly so) that they have this game well in hand and can pull away anytime they please. Now, hang within 5 or 6 pts until the 5 minute mark ... Then turn it on ... Get hot ... And take the lead and leave them no time to recover. Simple !!!
Things might favor the Sixers now ... They seem to enjoy this type of game ... The only Celtic that thrives on this stuff is ... Paul Pierce .. The rest of them wilt !
God their announcer tommy makes me want to shoot someone.
Am surprised the Pierce is not taking the shots. He is the only clutch player in the bunch. I have the feeling we are going to see a lot of Pierce in these last 3 minutes.
Well... Pierce's FT ended the 19-0 run we were on.
I don't get why they keep giving it to Garnett .... But it is all right with me. Keep it out of the hands of Pierce.
LOL Boston didn't score for 6 minutes.
Well, now the Sixers have beaten each of the top 4 teams in the East. That bodes well for the playoffs.
Pierce took 1 shot inside the 3 point line all game.
This is ridiculous...I know that this game may not have meant as much for the Celtics, and they just came off of an emotional roqad trip, but..
I guess Doc Rivers got out-coached tonight. Great coaching job by Mo Cheeks.
It feels even better knowing that they earned their place above .500 .... We shut down the best defensive team in the league in the 4th quarter in their house.
The sixers won I think the Celtics (and pistons) are getting a bit bored with the regular season
Boston says we'll rest some of our starters and overtake them in the fourth only to see us get some stops....you don't score 19-0 run against the best defensive team in the league without getting some stops. .....our defense getting stops when we need them lately in the fourth quarters of all these games is pretty impressive.....
Great game, this was one of our best wins in the last 3 years.
The Pistons and Sixers have identical records over the last 27 games.
it's a nice day to be a Philly fan living in Boston..
For the second game in a row, the Celtics gave up a 4th quarter lead to lose a game they should have won. A few thoughts from this game.
The Celtics weren't aggressive and seemed to be playing s step slow all night. They were beaten on the boards 42-34. The Sixers had 48 points in the paint to only 28 for the Celtics. Philly had 20 fast break points to only 5 for the Celtics. The Sixers won in every hustle category.
The team slows down dramatically when Sam Cassell comes in for Rondo. Granted that Sam hasn't practiced with the team yet, but it just seems as though the Celtics lose a lot of their offensive flow when Rondo goes out. Doc should have brought Rondo and Pierce back into the game earlier in the 4th when the Sixers were chipping away at the Celtics 11 point lead. But I can see that he is trying to get the bench more time now and trying to get Sam integrated into the second unit. Hopefully a little practice time will help.
James Posey wasn't at the game tonight because of a family matter and he was missed. PJ Brown didn't play in this game which seemed strange to me if Doc is trying to get these guys more time.
Leon Powe once again made the most of his minutes and was the player of the game for the Celtics. He finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block in 21 minutes.
Pierce and Ray both had sub par games as Pierce finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals and Ray had 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. KG finished below his usual output also with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
The Celtics turned the ball over 15 times, 9 of those in the second half. They allowed the Sixers to go on a 19-0 run in the 4th quarter to pull the game out. The Celtics usual swarming defense was nowhere to be found and it was the Sixers who got the stops down the stretch. The Celtics shot 45% while the Sixers shot 44%.
The real difference in this game was in the free throw differential. I thought the game was called very much one sided as the Sixers shot 44 free throws and the Celtics shot only 20. The Celtics drove to the hoop a lot and just didn't get the calls. So much for the home team getting the calls.
Hopefully, the Celtics can shake off this loss and come out strong against the Suns on Wednesday to avenge that big loss out in Phoenix. The Pistons beat the Suns tonight to keep the pressure on the Celtics for the home court advantage in the playoffs.
Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul were named Players of the Week for the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively. Garnett led the Celtics to a 3-1 week, as Boston became the first team since the Sacramento Kings in 2001 to sweep the Texas Triangle (Dallas, Houston and San Antonio). The last time Boston accomplished the feat was in 1987. Garnett had 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in Boston’s 94-74 win over the Rockets, snapping the team’s 22-game winning streak. For the week, Garnett averaged 20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
Here are comments found around the Hornets' boards during their game with the Celtics. These are definitely more fun when the Celtics win.
Boston might be the best in the east but lets show em who runs this league.
I"m not feeling good about this one. I guess since we haven't played them, I'm wondering how we will match up against them.
All Hornets will need to play their tails off to pull out a win. This includes the bench because the Celts have a couple of nice reserves. I'm not sure about Tony Allens' status for this game but if he plays, keep him in check. Also, Powe, Posey, House, Cassell, and perhaps Big Baby. We don't even need to mention the starting 5 (especially the Big 3) but let's hope a few of them are off their games tonight.
Announcers are saying that Celtics wanted CP3 on their squad when he was drafted. We all love Chris but Damn imagine KG, Pierce, Ray and CP3 that would be just too insane for those Celtics.
There is one thing about the Celtics that really concerns me, and surprisingly that thing is a guy by the name of Sam Cassell... He has been able to really limit Chris Paul offensively when CP faced him when he was on the Clips. Moreso than almost any other point guard in the league.
Rondo likes that little move. Let's not fall for it again guys.
Celtics are canning everything...
I don't like Paul Pierce for some odd reason.
Does anyone in the NBA flop more than Paul Pierce? He makes Tyler Hansbrough appear normal.
Rondo is pesky
We have no answer for pierce
How sweet would Hornets - Celtics finals be ?
If the Celtics continue hitting 75 percent of their shots it will be a long nite...
I cant believe they are hitting almost every shot they take.
We just gotta keep at it on offense. The Celts are shooting 75 and its not like they are getting a bunch of easy shots. They've hit some tough J's.
Boston will get tired in the second half then we will take over the game..........
Eddie House is hitting shots, I guess the hell just froze over
These announcers are really trying to take it to Paul to make Rondo look good...
Geez, these guys are just too freaking good lol. KG is a beast.
True. Paul's frustrated. The Celtics are good, the class of the NBA.
I know. It's just frustrating to watch another team that's in a zone dominate us, and then sit there and listen to announcers fawn all over their players and totally downgrade our best player.
I'm never one to complain about commentators, but these guys are the worse.
How many more times can we do Paul - West thing tonight? Howcome those Celtics hasn't stopped that after the 3rd-4th time around... If they cut him off we are done for the night.
I hate James Posey even more now!!!!!!!!!!
The referees are trying to give Boston the win. That was clearly goal tending
I don't know what has annoyed me more,the refs or these dueling idiots on the Celtics broadcast.
It's official, I hate PJ!
Does Powe do anything but try and pick up charges? Who does he think he is Manu Ginobili??
Leon "Moses Malone" Powe must have a hard time living next to the ocean. Those ocean breezes must keep him flat on his back several hours a day. I mean, he falls easily..
I told yall,,,,we keep running,,,,Boston is go get tired in the 4th period........
We make Rondo look good
The NBA where the best get beaten happens!
This would be the most exciting NBA finals matchup in YEARS if it were to come down to these to teams!
Those Celtics announcers suck. How can Rondo be the player of the game if they lost?
