Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (1 point, five rebounds) left the game for good with one minute left in the third quarter with a strained left shoulder. He will be evaluated today. Although Rivers expressed concern over the injury after the game, Perkins told team director of media relations Jeff Twiss he felt fine . . .
Two things: it is listed as a strain and that is much better than a dislocation, which is what led to the surgery two seasons ago. Second, he told Jeff Twiss that he felt fine. If it was too bad, he would have been in a lot more pain.
The Celtics have returned from Minnesota but will not practice today and instead hold a walkthrough at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the TD Banknorth Garden in preparation for their National TV game with the San Antonio Spurs.
Guarding Tim Duncan should be a challenge, though, because Garnett will likely still be out and now Kendrick Perkins is questionable as well after straining his left shoulder in the third quarter in Minnesota last night. Perk will be re-evaluated later today and we hope to have an update then, but for now he's considered "day-to-day".
It is still listed as a strain. He will be re-evaluated later today. Playing against the Spurs tomorrow will likely be a game time decision.
Here are some things I found around the Wolves boards during their game with the Celtics.
We need a very adrenaline filled game by our players. KG is their defense anchor and he will not be playing tonight; he wants to play badly, but it would aggravate his injury. Less than 15 TO, excellent guard play from Telfair, and Jefferson having a career game should get us the win. Our defense was good on them last time; they also seemed out of sync.
Minny might take this one, especially if KG isn't playing. We all know what Big Al and Gomes are capable of and how much they want to beat the C's.
I usually don't do this, but considering that KG is out, the Wolves played the C's so close the 1st time around, Al, Gomes, & Bassy should be even more jacked up than usual, and we are playing in front of a sell-out crowd FOR ONCE, I'm takin the Wolves.
Wolves 94 C's 92
Also, I just want to say that I am becoming a big Rondo fan, and look forward to watching him live again tonight.
The Wolves are amazingly only 6 point underdogs. Obviously this is due to KG being out:
They better show KG get his ovation...
I got a little choked up when the announcer announced him like he was coming out for the T'wolves " 6'11 Forward from Farragut Academy, KEVIN GARRRRRNETTTT! " :'(
Espn Big Al on a national stage. He is going to drop 40 on the Celtics and show them he should of been in the allstar game
Double, even triple teams on Jefferson.
Rofl at Brian scal's passing abilities.
Pierce, Al and Perk having a nice conversation on the free throw line.
OMG McCants just said "Pierce, get on my level"
What's up with Corey Brewer's legs?
let's be the 1st WC team that wins vs the Celtics
T up Doc already.
Al can't get ANYTHING. Gameplan for the C's was definitely to stop AL
Put Green out there. At least he can hit an open jumper.
Twice these freaks escaped us!
How ironic another last second loss against Boston....wow ....
Powe never should have gotten the chance. Allen was completely fouled on that play.
Now we got to wait another freaking year to play these freaks! Ahhhhh!
Now lets hope Al doesn't go into depression or something...
Terrible by Boston if kg goes down during the playoffs theres no way they have the depth too win
LOL they barely beat us, they need KG badly.
If Boston isnt at full strength they are not a lock to win the East...
Wolves got screwed out of yet another technicality.. Who knows what would have happened had Allen gone to the line. That sucked.
Horrible Refs! That wasn't the only call that they missed. Although they were consistent, I still hate the fact that the game's outcome was drastically altered by the Referees. Horrible.
The Celtics are very lucky that they don't have two more losses, because they should!
I wasn't going to drink tonight, but recent events have altered my plans. That was heartbreaking.
I Don't know why the Celtics have such a hard time getting pyched to play the basketball machine that is the Minnesota Timberwolves
KG came out before the game and got a very warm welcome from the fans in Minnesota. Clearly they still love KG and appreciate all he did for their franchise. As is his custom, he then went to the locker room to watch the game from there. The ESPN announcers made a comment that they wouldn't expect to see KG until March. I really hope they are wrong about that. I wasn't expecting him to play until after the All Star break but did expect him to play on the western trip right afterward. Hopefully Perk will be back and ready to go by then as well.
This was a game that was sloppy from beginning to end. The refs were terrible and there were stretches where no one could hit a basket. Neither team shot well in the first quarter as the Celtics shot 38% and Wolves shot 33%. The Wolves led 18-16 at the end of one. The second quarter was a little better with the Celtics raising their shooting to 47% and the Wolves coming up to 42%. At one point, I felt like I was watching ping pong as there were turnovers on both ends of the court on 5 possessions in a row.
The Celtics suffered a big loss when Perk went out with a shoulder injury with 1:36 left in the third quarter. This is the same shoulder that Perk had injured in high school and then dislocated it twice as a Celtic. He last injured it on February 8, 2006 and had surgery on it, which was supposed to make it as strong as if it had never been injured. Hopefully it isn't serious, but it is very worrisome to see him go out. He was in considerable pain after the injury and will be evaluated tomorrow in Boston. He had 1 point, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks before leaving the game. I am glad we don't have to play this team again. The first game we lost KG and the second we lost Perk. If we had to play them much more, we wouldn't have any bigs left.
The hero of the game was Leon Powe. He had a very strong game, finishing with 16 points on 8-10 shooting, 8 rebounds and 1 block. He came up big on the final play of the game. Rondo had tied the game on a pull up jumper with 28 seconds to go. Jaric missed an open 3 and Smith grabbed the rebound but threw it to Ray Allen who drove to the hoop and was mugged but no foul was called. Powe was there to grab the rebound and put it back in at the buzzer. Powe was mugged by his teammates afterward and you just have to be happy for this kid. In the post game interview, he couldn't stop smiling. If Perk is out for any time, we are going to need Leon to step up even more. Rondo is showing so much confidence and didn't hesitate to take that jumper. He finished with 12 points on 6-12 shooting to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block. We are seeing him improve game by game.
Ray Allen once again struggled with his shot going 5-16 from the field but finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Pierce's shot was also off shooting 6-16 from the field and finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. He picked up 2 fouls early in the first and that seemed to throw his game off. Scal once again started and finished went scoreless with 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 18 minutes.
Eddie House hit some big shots and finished with 14 points and 4 assists. Tony played only 13 minutes, finishing with 5 points and 1 assist. Big Baby played 6 minutes, finishing with 2 points and 2 rebounds. Posey did a little bit of everything as he finished with 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.
For the game, the Celtics shot 46% while holding the Wolves to 42% shooting. Big Al was doubled every time he touched the ball and didn't get anything going until the 4th when he hit some big shots. There were 18 lead changes and 20 ties in this very sloppy game on both sides. The Wolves outscored the Celtics in the paint 50-34. The Celtics out rebounded the Wolves 31-29 but the Wolves had 15 offensive rebounds to only 5 for the Celtics. Next up for the Celtics is the Spurs but without KG and with Perk now in question, it isn't looking good. Scal starting against Tim Duncan is the stuff of nightmares.
Rough Day Tuesday was a rough day for me. It started at 3 am when I was abruptly awakened by my cat peeling out across my face. I now have some pretty deep gashes across my face. Thankfully I didn't need stitches but will probably have a scar or two. Then, I was doing the links in the morning and my computer crashed. I have had ongoing problems with this computer and it is very frustrating. Thankfully I got it back and it was must a heat issue and not the motherboard. I feel very lost without my computer. At least my Celtics beat the Clippers. I really needed that after the day I had. Celtics North and South The Timberwolves now have 6 players on their team that are former Celtics (Jefferson, Gomes, Telfair, Green, Ratliff and Walker). The Miami Heat now have 3 players who are former Celtics on their team (Blount, Davis, and Banks). It was 4 before they waived Luke Jackson. What else do these two teams have in common? They have the worst two records in the league. It has to be a coincidence, doesn't it?
Trade Front Heating Up With the steal - er, trade - of Gasol to LA, the trade gates are open. The trade of Shaq to Phoenix is surprising. First, he has been in a steep decline over the past 4 seasons. He has been averaging fewer points and rebounds each season and has been missing more games each season and he is set to make $20 million each year through 2010. The Suns have the best record in the west and were pretty much clicking on all cylinders and now they change the whole dynamic of the team. Will Shaq be able to run like the Suns do? It seems that either the Suns are going to have to slow their game down a bit to fit with Shaq's game or the league has to approve roller skates for centers over 300 pounds. I just don't see him being a good fit for the team. On the other hand, the Heat got a very good player in Shawn Marion. He will make them better. Banks was a throw in, I am sure. The Heat now has to depend on Mark Blount as their center. How long will it be until he gets dissatisfied there and stops trying as has been his MO other places. It seems to me that Phoenix is making a mistake. They are depending on two older and often injured and fragile players in Shaq and Grant Hill and have given up a very good player and defender in Shawn Marion. We missed playing the new look Lakers, but will catch the new look Suns twice and have one more game with the Heat.
Bench Notes The Celtics bench has been much maligned this season. As this season has gone on, we have seen some very good play from the second unit. Doc usually has one of the three stars on the floor at all times but in the Clippers game, the unit of Eddie House, Tony Allen, James Posey, Leon Powe and Big Baby were in the game for the whole 4th quarter and played very well. I really like that unit and hope that Doc saw how successful they were and puts them out there again. That unit played well together and they didn't need Pierce, Ray or KG out there with them. If Doc would play this unit more often, then the stars can get more rest. Leon Powe is playing very well. He brings toughness and rebounding inside as well as an offensive touch around the basket. I really hope Doc doesn't forget about him once KG comes back. On the other hand, I could do without seeing quite as much Scal. KG's injury could be a blessing in disguise as the bench has made a big leap in his absence. Aggressive Rondo Rondo has also made a big leap recently and has been very aggressive lately. It is like he has taken his game to another level. He has also been hitting his jumpers. We are seeing Rondo's confidence growing game by game. I have no doubt that he is going to be one of the top PGs in the league before long. He reminds me of a weeble. He is constantly getting knocked down but he always pops back up. Wednesday night, he had cotten up his nose to stop it bleeding. He got flattened by Sam Cassell. But he gets back up and goes right back at it. It appeared that he went into the Clippers' locker room at the half. I can seel Rondo going to Cassell at the half and telling him that there was no offense taken. If you missed Cassell's flagrant foul on Rondo, here it is.
Speaking of Cassell. Yesterday, there were stories all over about Cassell wanting a buyout and wanting to play in Boston. The Globe had a big article on how Cassell has his agent working on the buyout and that is the only way he can get to Boston and he is willing to give up money to come to Boston. Now today, there is an article on AHN that says that he isn't looking for a buyout and doesn't want to come to the Celtics. I just can't imagine Marc Spears getting it all so wrong and completely mis-quoting Sam that much. Something is up for the story to have changed so drastically overnight. Marc Spears stands by his article and says that he has the whole interview on tape. Maybe Cassell was just getting flack from his team and is trying to be a good teammate. Yesterday, it seemed like a buyout was only a matter of time. Today, who knows.
KG in Minny KG traveled with the team to Minnesota but is not expected to play. I imagine it will be a very emotional night for him even if he doesn't play. The game is on ESPN and Sunday's game against the Spurs is on ABC. We have had more national TV games this season already then we had in the last 3 years. The Wolves will be up for this game and hopefully the Celtics will be up to win it for KG. The Wolves felt they should have won the game in Boston and will be looking for revenge. They have a lot of talent on that team but with youth comes inconsistency. Look out for them in a couple of years if McHale is patient. Tonight, though, I expect them to be on their game and will give the KG-less Celtics a run for their money.
Dunk Contest I know that it is a marketing thing, but I don't like the fan voting for the dunk contest. It will end up being a popularity contest like the All Star voting and the best dunker might not win. With Gerald Green's delicate ego, if he comes up with the best dunks and then doesn't win because Dwight Howard or Rudy Gay is more popular with the fans, then it may take a toll on him that he won't get over. I still think that Green has potential. One day it may just click and his head is going to catch up with his athleticism and talent and he will be quite a player. He may have the best dunk but I don't see him winning a popularity contest right now. On the other hand, I thought Dwight Howard was robbed last season. He should have been in the finals and then who knows, he may have been the champion. We didn't get to see his best dunks.
Gomes' Future Ryan Gomes will be a free agent after this season. There is an article on Canis Hoopus that questions what Gomes will cost the Wolves to try to resign. I wonder if the Celtics might go after him and try to bring him back to Boston. With his whole family in this area, I would think that if the Celtics make an offer he would consider it. He would be a good pickup and I would love to have him back in Boston. But then again, he has more opportunity in Minnesota where he would likely remain a starter and in Boston he would be coming off the bench. Lots of speculation, but worth thinking about. Flu Epidemic There have been players all over the league who have been out with the flu. On the Celtics Scal, House and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have had bouts with it. The Clippers had 2 players recovering from it when they played in Boston. Last night Tracy McGrady came to the game after spending the day in the hospital getting fluids. You would think that teams would require their players to get a flu shot. Very simple thing. I know I used to get the flu almost every year until I started getting flu shots and haven't gotten it since. With these guys playing during flu season, I would think that this is something that teams would think of. But then, I have never seen as many players out with the flu as there have been this season. With all the players having the flu this season, maybe they will make it a requirement next season.
Here are comments found around the Clippers' boards during their game with the Celtics. There are also a few comments on their feelings about a Cassell buyout.
No Garnett for the Celtics & no Thomas for the Clippers tonight. For the Clippers, go hard, play defense, and stay within reach. To the Celtics: Take the night off, why don't ya? You've earned it.
garnett is still out right? wonder if he will take this opportunity to try to convince cassell to convince the clippers to move him so he can rejoin kevin
Paul Pierce is off to a hot start. He leads the Clippers 7-0. Edit: Make that 9-0.
After being down 9-0, we're up 24-22 with about 2 mins to go in the first! In the long run, this lead may be trivial, but it's pretty cool.
Tech on Posey, what was he thinking?!
scary moment for Clipper fans when Big Baby fell on top on Powell out of bounds. The last thing we need is another injury. Luckily, he's alright.
Big Baby tackles Josh out of bounds. Glad to see Josh get up and look unfazed after that one.
Ouch Sammy with the flagrant foul (penalty 2) on Rajon Rondo.
Rondo is outplaying the Clippers.
Since Sam went out the C's have just gone SILLY scoring. 59-48 Boston at the half.
Looks like the Celtics just dominated in the second quarter.
Rondo went into the visitor's locker room at halftime...
Tony Allen dices through the Clipper defense with a monstrous dunk.
84-81 at the end of the third. I have to admit, even without KG in the lineup I'm still impressed that they've managed to stay this close.
Sorry to say but first to 100 wins. Let's see if we can break the law.
Davis is knocking everybody around (Powell, Kaman, Maggette).
Another loss for us . The second and fourth quarter killed us.
this is another one of those game i just know we'd have killed them if we had shaun and elton healthy.
We played them fairly decent for three quarters. It sucks that we can tell that Kaman isn't back to regular form yet.
It sounds like Sam truly wants to play with KG in Boston, and I don't know that the Clippers organization would disrespect him by forcing him to stay with us. I really don't want to see Sam go...but it seems inevitable. I just hope we can work out a trade and not settle for a buyout...I don't wanna let our swag walk for nothin'. But Sammy deserves better than what the LA Clippers can give him this season, even if it means letting Sam walk. If this is the case, we'll probably have to wait til SL14 can play again to let my man go.
Sam is a veteran player who has 2 years to play, at most. Why would he want to keep losing if he can go to Boston? KG wants him there, and he is also very familiar with Ray Allen from their 4 years together in Milwaukee. I know the Clips want something back, but you just don't disrespect such a veteran by trading him to a team he doesn't want to play with (except Denver) or by keeping him and letting his contract expire. This will just get you a bad rep. If Sam really wants the buyout and is ready to leave money on the table, he will get what he wants.
it has nothing to do with KG. sure, sam might want to go to the celtics but sam is one of those players who just doesnt bail on his team when the going gets rough. plus sam does have one more year after this on his contract. he is not getting bought out, it doesnt make any sense for us to do that. and the celtics have nothing we want,
it doesn't matter what Cassell wants or his agent wants, he is under contract with the Clippers. If the Clippers can get expiring contracts and draft picks for him from say a team like Denver then they are not going to buy him out regardless or what Cassell or his agent want. It's just business.
It would make no sense to buy out Cassell when we could get some proven talent for him, or some picks. I'm even sure we could work out a deal with Boston and get something in return, even though they have way too many tradeable assets.
Here are comments found around the Cavs' boards during their game with the Celtics.
LBJ > KG + Allen + Pierce
LBJ >>>> Celtics >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Doc Rivers
We's gonna roll deez fools like a joint.....
Why is that loser KG out?
I hope we win this...lets keep Boston's bad weekend going...I hated the Celtics before the big three now I dislike them even more...GO CAVS!
We should beat them without KG. To make up for them beating us without Lebron.
Pierce and Ray can combine to out score LBJ by 30, but at the end of the day, the impact of LBJ far exceeds the impact of any combination of Boston Celtics...
I think Cleveland is going to win by at-least 10 points.
LOL at Austin making fun of the Spitter hurt on the bench, and admitting he doesn't like the Celtics.
"Boohoo Paul Pierce"
Hahaha.... Of course Paul Pierce has stomach problems. Facing Lebron always seems to make him sick.
Wow, Austin Carr really making fun of PP. Lol
Man our announcing team is just mocking everything Boston at this point. Hilarious.
If they keep hitting LBJ in the face, maybe they should bring Simmons in to just make Ray Allen swallow his teeth...
Great - Rondo hitting his jumpers
Drew just got abused by Scal... He should be so ashamed of himself.
Imagine how much better we'd be if we had gotten Ray Allen instead of Hughes.
Pierce is sick huh.. I hope he don't throw up on our court. He's already spit on our bench once
Ray Allen is just destroying our guards off the dribble He's 10x the slasher that Hughes is. And that isn't even his best asset.
Replace Hughes with Ray and Cleveland would possibly be the champions
Ray Allen is flat out ridiculous.
Ray's got such great touch.
Celtics are very good, they're showing it without KG and a sick Pierce.
I would think its safe to say LeBron doesn't like Pierce for many reasons but the biggest one is of course because he spit at him. I cant see how anyone could respect him after that.
I thought they squashed whatever beef they had.
Could you really forgive and forget when someone spit at you? He might have said he forgave him, but it doesn't mean he doesn't try to take it to him all the harder when they are playing. You can see LeBron doesn't like him on the court.
Actually he spit at the Cavs bench. But Pierce also talks a lot and I'm pretty sure that LeBron doesn't like the trash talking.
Rondo is their most important player, and it's not even close..He is the difference maker especially tonight.. LBJ was playing him early for the shot, and he was hitting it... And it's hard to play up on him due to the quickness.. He's the one guy that is throwing the entire defense off...Their entire offense reacts off of him...
Hmm.... Haha, Davis did just go flying. Seriously, our guys just need to flop more. And it's entirely the officials' fault. I can't fault players for flopping when they call the garbage. Who trains these guys?
Wow... .does anyone flop more than Pierce? He looks like he gets hit by a truck every time he drives.
Lol, the easiest way to coach teams nowadays is to coach them how to fall down.
These are suppose to be two of the better defensive teams in the east. At this point, I just hope we have the ball last in this game. They're both just racing up and down the court for buckets.
Rondo just blows by anybody you put on him - pretty much just have to pray he is not hitting his J
Perkins ran over two people on that play at least they called him for one of them.
Perkins annoys me for some reason
Tony Allen is destroying Damon Jones
Rondo getting some calls tonight, he has been out of control on some of these drives
Z was quietly having a picnic in the lane, reading the newspaper. Suddenly Rondo comes barging in and Z gets called for the foul on him. And he gets called for a foul on Wade too.
Why does your announcer scream on EVERY single play? Even in the 1st quarter. (from a Celtics fan)
Why does your announcer think that every ref in the world is out to get the Celtics?
LOL @ our announcers, they are pretty bad sometimes
Big Men should not take charges from PG's - Yao Ming had a habit of that, big men get that call 10% of the time, if that.....Big Baby is another one.
Regardless of the outcome, I think Boston proved tonight they are still a very good team even without Garnett. I'm really impressed with both their defense and their offense. I wish Doc Rivers would show Brown how to get his shooters some open shots by running off screens.
I agree... However, they are short on the boards, and that will kill them in April and May..
Cavs vs Boston would be a tremendous playoff series with a bunch of trash being talked
LOL crazy ending but I'll take it.
That's 2 wins against the Celtics. Even though they didn't have KG, we didn't have Varejao+Gooden+Sasha so it evens out.
In a game in which KG didn't play and Paul Pierce spent his time on the bench with a bucket in front of him as he was fighting the flu, the Celtics came up just short with a 114-113 loss on the road. Very little defense was played on either side in this game. The Celtics shot 62% in the first half while allowing the Cavs to shoot 56%. They cooled off slightly in the second half with the Celtics shooting 57% for the game while allowing the Cavs to shoot 51%.
The difference in this game was rebounding. The Celtics shot a higher percentage, had just one more turnover, and had 2 more points in the paint, but they were out rebounded 39-29 and many of those rebounds led to second chance points. It was a very close game thoughout with 56 lead changes and 46 ties. The biggest lead by either team was 8 by the Cavs and the Celtics biggest lead was 4.
Paul Pierce had the flu and when he was on the bench, he was seen with a towel on his head and a garbage can in front of him in case he got sick. In spite of being sick, he played 35 minutes and finished with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal but he was a step slow much of the game. Ray Allen picked up the slack and played very aggressively. He finished with 24 points on 8-13 shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 41 minutes. Rondo had a big game with 20 points on 8-13 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He also had a very uncharacteristic 5 turnovers, with many of those coming as he drove into the lane and had the ball stripped.
Scal started in place of KG once again and finished with 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 steals in 17 minutes of play. Perk had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists and played some good defense inside. Powe was the first big man off the bench but seemed to struggle and had just 2 points and 2 rebounds in 7 minutes. Big Baby played 13 minutes in this game and seemed to match up better with Ilgauskas, finished with 9 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.
James Posey came off the bench to score 6 points to go with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. His 3 at the buzzer cut the lead from 4 to 3 but it was too little too late. House finished with 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. Tony had another good game with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. He was aggressive taking the ball to the basket and also shot the ball well from outside.
The Celtics failure to play defense was a concern. I can imagine that Tom Thibodeau will give them all an earful before tomorrow night's game against the Clippers. The Celtics let this one slip away by being sloppy with the ball, not being aggressive enough on the boards, and allowing the Cavs to score at will. Hopefully they will figure it out and play better tomorrow night.
Herald C's far from finished FL's Take: The Celtics can take one thing from the Patriots' loss and that is that no matter how well you do in the regular season, you have to work twice as hard in the post season as the other teams are going to. They should also remember the Mavs and Warriors of last season. The underdog is always more motivated. I do believe that the Pats' loss takes some of the pressure off the Celtics, though. If both the Sox and Patriots were champions, the pressure would be huge for the Celtics to win also and sometimes pressure like that can backfire. The Patriots were under tremendous pressure to complete the perfect season and that may have taken its toll. Garnett sees value in healing process FL's Take: I am glad that KG is seeing the value in healing and not trying to play hurt. The injury could be a blessing in disguise as we needed another big to step up and the extra minutes that Powe is getting right now is allowing him to do that. The experience he is getting now will be very valuable down the stretch. Scal doing the job FL's Take: I am all for the little things. I know Perk does a lot of things that don't show up in the box score, but I don't see Scal doing all that much. I watch him, I really do and just don't see it. Maybe they are showcasing Scal for the big trade to bring in a PG. There has to be another team out there who needs a player who does all the little things. Celtics - Cavs scouting report GlobeHe's becoming a one-man James gang Garnett may skip Minnesota trip FL's Take: Even if KG doesn't play, he should go with the team and for this game only, sit on the bench. The fans in Minnesota deserve this chance to show him some love for all he did for that franchise and all he meant to the fans there. Cavaliers Thumbnails FL's Take: The Cavs are as strong inside team and without KG, the other bigs are going to have to step up their defense. Powe and Perk are going to have to have big games and Pierce has to step up his game to counter LeBron. It would be a big help if Ray would find his shooting touch in this game also. CelticsBlogCassell has his agent on the job FL's Take: It seems like everyone sees Cassell as a perfect fit for this team. KG wants him. Cassell's agent wants him here. Cassell himself would like to be here. Most of the media has been making a case for Cassell to Boston. The fans are all posting for Cassell to Boston. But, Danny Ainge has been saying that he is happy with the team and doesn't want to mess with the chemistry. This may be one of Danny's infamous smoke screens but he has to see that there is a need for a PG on this team. It seems to be the one chink in the armor at this time. Full Court Press High above Courtside: Reflections on Johnny Most 15 years later FL's Take: Johnny Most was one of the most colorful, yet one of the best radio play by play men in the business. For those who have had the privilege of hearing Johnny call a game, the memories are very fond. This is my third article for Full Court Press and I hope you take a minute to read it and remember a Celtics Legend. Celtics 17 Garnett to remain inactive this week SI.com Power Rankings Celtics #2 - Lakers #1????????? FL's Take: The Lakers number 1? Yes, they made a big move. Yes, on paper they look good. BUT, they still have 8 more losses than the Celtics and they are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Move them up a little, yes but putting them #1 is ridiculous. NY Daily News Cassell: A good point for the Celtics? News Herald C's are all about D FL's Take: I have said it for years. Defense is the key to winning, period. I have been very frustrated with Doc's teams over the past few years because they played no defense and Doc made a comment that they worked on offense in practice because that is the hardest to get and the defense takes care of itself because after all, half the team has to play defense when they are working on offensive sets. That was my biggest gripe with Doc. Now that Thibodeau has come aboard things have changed and I am very happy about it. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie The Air Up There where Kevin Bacon is trying to teach an African tribe how to play basketball: "Defense is more important than breathing." Beacon Journal Cav vs Celtics offers playoffs clue Worcester Telegram Rondo's quick mind, feet bolster the Celtics FL's Take: Rondo has all the tools to become one of the top PG's in this league. He is in the Sophomore game this season, but in a year or two, I expect him to be one of the 4 PG's picked for the Skills Challenge. Rondo keeps getting better game by game and that is very important to this team. Chronicle TelegramCavs catch break won't face All Star Garnett Sports of BostonNo Stoudamire? Give me some Cassell Yardbarker I'm focused man - Rondo's blog Sports in Your FaceTop 10 things messed up'd with the NBA FL's Take: The biggest thing messed up with this league is the officiating. Most nights it appears that the refs have the agenda of trying to keep games close as the bad calls run in waves. They continually change the momentum with their terrible calls. Another thing that is ridiculous is the star calls and their inconsistency. Perk gets a technical for staring at a player and Dwight Howard can take a close fisted swing at Rondo right in front of a ref and get away with it. The only reason that the punch didn't connect was that Rondo has quick reflexes and ducked out of the way in time to miss it. If Stern doesn't do something about the officiating, the league is going to lose all credibility. Morning JournalCloudy Forecast Pioneer Press KG unlikely to play when Celtics visit Wolves on Friday Canada.comLeBron appears to be MVP underdog Star Tribune KG might not be here when Celtics arrive Slam Online The insanely early MVP race FanHouse Ray's ankles in worse shape than you'd think The Mighty Q It's over and it's time to move on to the Celtics TrueHoop Minnesota wants its Kevin Garnett Boston Now Patriots loss Celtics gain? Fox Sports NBA still has work to do but the color barrier has been erased Yahoo Sports KG stands for Kid Gloves NBA.com Power Rankings Celtics back on top ESPN Stein's Power Rankings Celtics #2 Hollinger's Rankings Celtics #1 Lex Nihil Novi My latest theory on Ray Allen SouthCoast TodayKnight walks away from the bench FL's Take: Bobby Knight has been a very controversial coach his entire career. But, one thing is certain, he always got results in spite of his temper tantrums. He played by the rules and always made sure his players went to classes and he had a very good graduation rate in his players. He did have a temper though and that always overshadowed the good things he was doing both on and off the court. I remember one time when Isiah Thomas was being interviewed about playing for Knight they asked him what he had learned from playing under the famous coach. Isiah said that the biggest thing he learned was a whole lot of new curse words. Patriot Ledger Celtics to get the spotlight now Connecticut Post NBA winks and blinks Parquet Wishes and Leprechaun Dreams Rondogate? FL's Take: This is pretty funny. Next the coaches in basketball will be shielding their faces when calling plays.
I am still amazed by the lack of respect the Celtics get. After the Celtics game against the Mavs, the top ten plays had just one play from the Celtics and that was a play by Pierce at #10. The top play was a 3 by the Pistons that wasn't even a buzzer beater. The play where Rondo took the rebound away from Dirk and then put it in off the glass and the steal by Posey weren't even in the top 10.
If you taped or Tivo'd the Mavs game, go back to halftime where they go into the Celtics locker room. After the little bit by Doc, the players go into the huddle and you can see KG in the back looking like he is ready to rip someone's head off. I would hate to be the person who gets in his way when they finally turn him loose on an unsuspecting opponent.
Thoughts on the Gasol trade. First, everyone has been very quick to declare the Lakers the favorites for the title before Gasol even suited up for them. After the Celtics made the trade for Garnett, all we heard was that there wouldn't be enough basketballs for them, they would take a long time to mesh, they had to prove themselves, etc. And we still hear the critics say that they haven't played the Spurs, Suns or Hornets yet and so they haven't proved anything. It seems to me that the Lakers have just as many questions now. Will Gasol fit with Odom, Bynum and Kobe in the Triangle offense? Will Gasol be able to stay healthy? He has a history of back and foot problems and sometimes those can become chronic. Finally, the playoffs are all about defense. Gasol has never been known for his defensive prowess. Will the Lakers play defense? Will the players mesh? Will Kobe make sacrifices as Pierce, KG and Ray Allen have to accomodate another star? Only time will tell but I am not ready to call them favorites yet.
"When I left (Seattle) the doctor there told me that he didn't want me to go to training camp and he didn't want me to play back-to-back (nights) starting the season off," Allen said. "The team had a relationship with the trainers, and the doctor, so they knew what the prognosis was - that I would have to ease into it. "But then when I was traded, with all the excitement and everything that I was doing, I just came here getting ready to play a season. There was no way I was going to come in and say, 'I can't play. I am not going to training camp.' And then, 'I'm not playing back-to-backs.' I was just going to take it day-by-day and see how I felt." "I've felt good, but I've still had slight problems with my ankles and trying to move forward," he said. "That's just with the soreness in them. It just hurts me a little bit.
That explains the struggles that Ray has had with his jumper. It was evident that his legs just weren't there as many of his jumpers came up short. The good news is that he said that he is feeling better and is looking forward to playing much better in the second half. A healthy Ray Allen would makes a huge difference for the Celtics down the stretch. The rest over the All Star break will be very beneficial for the team.
What a shocker in the Super Bowl. I was pulling for the Patriots but the Giants earned this one. This takes a little pressure off of the Celtics now as if both the Sox and Pats were champions, the pressure would have been huge for the Celtics to win also. Now the Celtics can go for a championship without that added pressure of both of the other Boston teams having won already.
The trade deadline is coming up quickly. Is Danny going to make a move or roll the dice with what we have? We need a back up point guard. House and Tony can fill in now, but in the playoffs, they won't be able to handle the pressure that is thrown at them. If Rondo gets in foul trouble or is out for any time, we are in trouble. Denver is now interested in Cassell. Stoudamire has already signed with the Spurs. Danny says he doesn't want to disrupt the chemistry. That may be a smoke screen as Danny is very good with those. Hopefully he has a PG up his sleeve because chemistry or no chemistry, this team can use a back up point guard.
- Big Baby is not getting minutes b/c he's not giving 100% when he's out there, gets too caught up in putting on a show so to speak. Bench guys need to realize that when called upon they need to give it their all and contribute, or they'll end up back on the bench. Converse to that is Powe who they feel has really earned his minutes.
Being a rookie, I think Big Baby still gets caught up in the "I can't believe I am here and playing with these guys" mentality. No surprise that Leon gives his all because he has since day 1. He give it his all in practice as well as games and makes good things happen.
- Goal is 3 finals appearances in next 4 years - I asked him about Thibideau's impact, and he said what we all thought, that he's helped bring that defensive intensity that we're all seeing.
Hmmmm... I wonder which year they don't plan to be in the finals? It is obvious that Thibodeau is the mastermind behind the defense. He has done that everywhere he has gone and I am nervous that he has only a one year contract and will be in much demand for head coaching positions next season. Defense is the key, especially in the playoffs and Thibodeau brings that to this team. Good read overall.
The Celtics are putting no timetable for KG's return. According to the Herald it is doubtful that he will play against the Cavs or the Clippers. He still isn't practicing with the team. He may play against the Wolves on Friday or more than likely, he will be out till after the All Star break. If he is, they will need to name a replacement for his spot on the All Star team. Ray Allen anyone? I don't blame them for being cautious. Right now it is a strain, but could easily be a tear if he plays before it is completely healed. Besides, Powe is getting some good minutes right now, which will benefit the team down the stretch.
After the Wolves game, KG said that he had been playing hurt and never said anything about it until he felt that "sniper shot" in the game and had to come out. So, we probably haven't seen the best of KG lately because of the injury. This shows that it had been getting worse while he was trying to play through it. While we are waiting for KG to return, Here is a video to whet your appetite as he will come back with a vengeance.
Herald Jennings hopes to be affiliated with the Celtics FL's Take: It would be nice for the Celtics to have their own D-League team similar to the Jazz having the Flash. They could have more hands on control of their players there. They also wouldn't have to travel quite as far to observe players there. Lots of benefits to this. Kidd deals blow to New Jersey Dunk by Green, assist by West FL's Take: I am glad that Gerald is defending his title although if he doesn't win, it could be another big blow to a kid who is already down. Dwight Howard may be the favorite here, especially with fans being able to vote on the dunks. Gerald doesn't have near the fan base that Howard has. As for Delonte, I wouldn't mind having him on the Celtics again. We could do a lot worse than have him as a back up PG. Globe Bumps didn't derail Celtics MetroWest DailyAllen's ankles having an effect FL's Take: We all knew there was something wrong with Ray as he just wasn't shooting like he was capable of. Hopefully with this 4 day rest plus the All Star break rest, he will come back strong and his shooting will make a huge difference for the Celtics if he is shooting well. CelticsBlog CelticsStuff Live on TV FL's Take: Good stuff. Nice to put faces to the voices. A happy Kobe is a scary Kobe LOY's Place Rough schedule ahead ESPN Lakers might again be NBA's brightest light FL's Take: People have been very quick to anoint the Lakers as the favorites and it does seem as though they have made a huge leap. But, Gasol has not been known to play defense and he has also been plagued with injuries. In the playoffs, defense is King and the Lakers haven't made defense a priority like the Celtics have. Also, Kobe, Gasol and Odom are going to have to mesh their games and in the past, Kobe hasn't been all that willing to sacrifice his game for others. Only time will tell if this team makes it to the top. Miami Herald Ricky D doesn't want to leave Miami FL's Take: With Ricky's reported love of the night life, it is no wonder that he wants to stay in Miami. I still like Ricky and hope he can find a home somewhere and finish his career on a strong note. One on one with Paul Pierce Daily Breeze Resurgence of Lakers, Celtics is what NBA needs Worcester TelegramBoston Dallas showdown II SI.com Bill Russell joins in Jackie Robinson celebration at Fenway Park Bleacher ReportLakers better be good Hoopsworld Kupchak Exec of the Year? Gasol, Lakers has a ring to it Denver Post Nuggets interested in Cassell FanHouse LA has a brighter future than Boston Red's Army Ain't gonna happen RealGM Frontloading the C's past the Garnett era FL's Take: The Celtics do need to think of the future along with playing for the present. They need look no further than the Heat to see how quickly a team can fade. Commercial AppealGasol for what? Shamrock Headband Getting over Gasol Lex Nihil Novi Is Powe being showcased? FL's Take: I really hope that they aren't showcasing him. Powe brings toughness, rebounding and inside play and the Celtics really need that. He always makes a difference when he gets into the game. He may be undersized, but his huge wingspan allows him to play taller players, similar to Clifford Ray in his playing days. He not only has the skills, but is a great kid as well. I had forgotten about that quote from Doc and I hope he follows through and keeps Leon around. The Celtics will regret letting him get away if they do trade him. Personally, I don't think they are showcasing him as much as just finally realizing that he can play and help the team. Walton approaching perfection for the '86 C's Patriot LedgerHome grown: C's absent from world party
