CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Random Thoughts Before Game 3

Larry Johnson Cartoon courtesy of WEEI

I have really been upset about Leon Powe's injury. This kid is one of the good guys. He works so hard and is just such a nice guy off the court and such a tough competitor on the court that this injury just doesn't seem fair.

Just how tough is this kid? He played 3 minutes after he tore his ACL. Every other player I have ever seen tear an ACL is writhing on the floor in pain. Yet, Leon continued to play. It says so much about Leon and his toughness and who he is. I really hope that the Celtics will offer him a contract in spite of the injury. He has fought through injury and adverse circumstances his whole life and he isn't going to stop now. He will be back. I just hope the Celtics realize what a special person he is and that he will be back in a Celtics uniform.

Good news that Scal will be back. I don't know how effective he will be after being out so long, but at this point, anything he can give will be welcome! Scal was having his best season as a Celtic before the injuries and hopefully he can get back to playing well again. Scal will be wearing a special headband to protect his head against another hard hit which is a good thing. We will need Perk, Big Baby, Mikki and Scal to all step up their game and stay out of foul trouble. I love that Scal is back and he felt good after a full practice, but if I had to choose between having Leon or Scal, I would take Leon. If Scal is hitting his outside shot, he can draw their bigs out and open up the middle somewhat. I have a feeling they are going to give him his shot and hopefully he will hit them.

If there was any doubt that David Stern and his minions want the Cavs in the Finals, it was erased in last night's Cavs - Pistons game. Have you looked at the free throw disparity in that game? The Cavs shot 43 free throws and the Pistons shot just 16 free throws. And it wasn't that the Pistons where going to the basket. That is one of the worst one sided officiating jobs I have ever seen. Terrible. How can any team beat the Cavs 3 with the refs giving them that kind of help. The Pistons could file a grievance against the refs, but since the directive comes down from the league office to call the game that way, they don't have much of a chance of winning it. We know that the Cavs and Lakers are going to get special treatment from the refs and anyone standing in their way are going to have to play the opponents and the refs as well. 43-16.... that is plain out ridiculous.

Rondo is such a tough kid. He has sprained his ankles more times than I can count this season and yet he is right back in there playing. He reminds me of those weebles toys... "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down." After another sprain in the last game, that he played through in the second half, he was supposed to sit out the two practices on the off days. He did sit out one, but yesterday, was right back out on the floor pushing the ball as hard as ever. But you have to wonder how many sprains this kid can come back from before he does some serious damage to the ankle.

I was watching the Denver game last night. The Birdman is pretty impressive. He brings a lot of energy to the game. I wonder why Danny didn't sign this guy when he had a chance to. Maybe he would have thought that Birdman's intensity and Garnett's intensity might clash. I think he would have given this team a boost. Certainly more than O'Bryant did. Detroit should be kicking themselves for trading Billups.

Predictions for tonight: Tonight I expect the Celtics to clamp down on defense and for Pierce to wake up and have a big game. The Bulls are feeling pretty good about themselves but yet, the Celtics haven't played well in either game. If the Celtics can put it together and start playing Celtics basketball (read that: DEFENSE) then I think they get the win in this game. Pierce hasn't been a factor and if he can get back on track, which I think he will, the Celtics will be a completely different team. I don't have much faith in the Celtics winning a Sunday afternoon game. But they can get tonight's game if they play Celtics' basketball.

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