Our aging stars are moving as if in the terminal stages of arthritis--slow, awkward, and painfully. They are invited to the All-Star game based as much if not more on past glories than on current production. Their final games before the festivities they perform abysmally. Yet, they eagerly attend this mid-winter celebration of And-1 hoops rather than politely declining to take the encore bow to their careers. To me this flies in the face of reason.
Pierce and Garnett appear to desperately need some recovery time to try and squeeze one more title run out of their high-mileage bodies. Their several and ongoing maladies have robbed them of their effectiveness and in the week leading up to the All-Star game rather than elite they appeared below average. I'm sure they would categorize the week as gutting-it-up and if they can play regular season games why shouldn't they take one last lap in the hoopla parade? Well because your play is hurting your team, you need the rest and rehab time, and your egos should have been overruled by your superego who had to be crying "take the time off and get your act together."
This pair of warriors have held my admiration for a decade but this week's decision making was just wrong. I won't watch the weekend's dog-and-pony show. I seldom do because it smacks of an ESPN-highlight media event rather than basketball. This time it will just be sad, very very sad.
Did anyone watch that Celebrity game? Any resemblance to basketball was totally coincidental. The Rookie/Sophomore game was pretty good. There are some very talented rookies in this class. What a pity that the Celtics only had that late second round pick and then gave him away.
Dennis Johnson has another shot at the Hall of Fame. He is one of the finalists this year along with Don Nelson. It has been a travesty that DJ has not been enshrined already. The Austin Toros and Maine Red Claws have spearheaded a petition to try to influence the committee to right this wrong that has gone on way too long. Nellie is up for enshrinement as a coach this time.
This time of year is way too nerve wracking for fans. I wish there was a way I could stay away from all media and then on February 18 just check in to see who was still a Celtic. Yesterday the rumors were kind of overwhelming. First there was Ray,Scal and JR for Butler and Jamison which would have been a good deal for the Celtics. Then there was Danny's flat out denial of any talks. Next up was Wojo on ESPN saying that his reports were true and that those talks were going on no matter what Danny had to say. Then there was the report that Dallas and the Wizards had a pretty much done deal for Butler.
I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the Wizards leaking the report about the Celtics, which was a very believable deal, to light a fire under the Mavs to get the deal done. And, what do you know, it worked. I never believe anything that Danny says about trades happening or not happening. Danny has flat out lied to us too many times to be believable. I still go back to the day I heard him on The Big Show and he very emphatically told Glenn Ordway that there were no talks going on and that nothing was close. One hour later, the trade for Wally was announced. Since that day, I don't believe a word out of his mouth. He will never tip his hand.
I do believe that Danny is actively shopping Ray Allen. I would love for Ray to stay a Celtic but having seen the team go into a tailspin after the original Big 3 faded into the woodwork, I know that Danny has to try to use the expiring contracts as they come up to get younger and get better. Otherwise the team will be back at square one. I also believe that Danny has to be trying to find something good in exchange for Rasheed. He says that Sheed is absolutely isn't on the market but there are rumors that he is and the fact that he came into the season completely out of shape and still isn't there and the fact that he just hasn't been for this team what they hoped he would be has to have Danny entertaining offers for him. Whether he can get anything done that will benefit the team is another story.
There are a lot of rumors that Cleveland is in serious talks for Amare. There are a couple of sides to this. It would depend on what they have to give up to get him. If they don't give up any key pieces, a la the Pau Gasol deal, then getting Amare could be enough to put them over the top. Then again, Amare and Shaq couldn't mesh in Phoenix, what's to think they will mesh in Cleveland? But again, the Cavs, if they don't give up any of their big men, have enough pieces that they wouldn't have to play together. I don't see this happening though. Amare has already said he was seriously thinking of not opting out of his contract and Phoenix is still too good to blow it up. Cavs are also in talks with the Wizards for Jamison. And, according to rumors, so are the Celtics.
There were also rumors that the Celtics are talking to Detroit about a Ray for Rip swap. And then there are the Kevin Martin rumors and the DJ Augustin rumors. This is going to be a very stressful week. I can't wait until Thursday so we can just get back to basketball and trying to win Banner 18. I'm still thinking that this team can win it. I don't take their recent struggles as proof that they are finished. This team was dominant before all the injuries and, unlike Charles Barkley, I believe that they can get healthy again and once again be a dominant team. "Remember the 1969 Celtics" and never say never.
Finally, I really love Steve Nash. He has a great sense of humor and can laugh at himself and seems like a really great guy. I came across this commercial and it had me laughing out loud. Hope this gives you a laugh today. We all need a laugh in the midst of all these rumors.
There wasn't a lot of chat about last night's game on any of the Hornets boards. It seemed odd since even the Nets still have a lot of game comments. Anyway, here are the few comments I could scrounge up.
Wow...very sloppy game both teams with lots of turnovers...it looks like we are consistent on offense, but horrible on defense... Big baby a scorer!?! Comeon!
Hornets better win this one, otherwise Ray-J Rondo will start talking trash again. And as a Bulls/Hornets fan, I hate Rondo with a passion.
10 bucks says there's going to be a turnover soon.
Wow...is there butter on that ball or what?
A CP on the bench outplayed Rajon Rondo. Huh, whodathunk.
This win was uglier than the Mardi Gras uniform
There were 43 combined turnovers today. This ties an NBA record for most turnovers in a game.
There were 45 turnovers, so we have the record outright with Boston.
Actually 45 is a single team record Combined record is 73!!!!!
garnett looks very old..boston is no longer a contender without him
Lol funny and ugly and good game(win)
Too many turnovers, but DC was a beast almost a triple double in a bad way but ok, A win is a win.
as bad as Collison was turning the ball over, the Celtics were worse. Pierce looked awful, and KG looked gimpy. Not a good outlook for the C's going forward, that's for sure.
The Celts were just dying for the All Star break to come- we caught them at the right time.
[Discuss on CG Forums!]
Even without injured Point Guard Chris Paul, the Hornets sting the Celtics 93 to 85. Good thing NO has Darren Collison. He torched the C's for a game best 25 points and dished out 9 assists. Although, his 10 turnovers almost takes away from his performance.
Boston, down 2 points after 1 quarter (27-29), held NO to just 14 points in the 2nd leading by 12 into the halftime, 55-43. However, the C's, seems to be trend lately, go cold in the 3rd as the Hornets put up 29 points while holding Boston to just 12 points (72-67). The 4th found Boston trying to make runs and play catch-up, but all was for not as NO closed the door putting up 21 points to Bostons 18.
Pierce led the way for Boston scoring 15 points on 4-11 shooting and 0-3 downtown. Combine that with 8 turnovers and needless to say Paul was not having a great game. The C's as a team turned it over 23 times, but NO bested them by 1 with 24 total turnovers.
Rondo had just 7 points and 4 assists to go along with 3 steals and only 2 turnovers, probably due to the fact he had his hands full with Collison who was able to penetrate against Rondos D almost at will.
KG once again look liked he had no lift and finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds.
Overall, Boaton shot under 50%, 16-27 from the charity stripe (58.2%), and only 1-8 from deep. Compared to the Hornets who hit 44% from the 3 and 81% from the line. NO also outrebounded Boston by 10 (47-37).
One of the bright spots for Boston was Marquis Daniels who had 14 points off the bench on 7-9 shooting. Wallace and Tony Allen chipped in 13 a piece. Wallace also had 2 out of Bostons 5 total blocks.
at Boston Celtics (32-17) at New Orleans Hornets (27-25)
Wednesday, February 10
8:00 PM ET
Game #50, Road Game # 26
TV: NBA-TV, CST, CSN NE, RTV
New Orleans Arena
Referees: Dick Bavetta, Eric Dalen, Michael Smith
he Hornets are missing their best player and play maker as Chris Paul is out with the knee injury. The matchup between CP3 and Rondo was always a fun one to watch but Rondo should have a much easier time going against Darren Collison.
The Hornets started the season with high expectations but chemistry problems and injuries have derailed their season and continue to do so with the most recent injury to Chris Paul. The same can be said of the Celtics this season as they are trying to right the ship after several very disappointing losses.
Both of these teams are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Celtics have won 3 of their last 4 games but are coming off a heartbreaking loss where they gave up an 11 point half time lead and completely collapsed in the 3rd quarter. The Hornets are also coming off a loss to Orlando. The Celtics are 17-8 on the road while the Hornets are 16-8 at home.
The Celtics are desperately seeking answers for their recent slide and need to start winning if they want to keep their hopes of Banner 18 this season alive. Doc has said that any stoppage of ball movement will result in a quick exit for that player. He should have just as quick a hook for players who cease to play defense, which in my opinion is an even bigger problem than the offense. And, he should make Sheed play in side and pull him for any ill advised 3's. I hope Doc sticks to his guns and holds the team to a higher standard and maybe then, they will start on a new win streak.
ProbableStarters PG SGSFPFC
Rajon Rondo/ Ray Allen/ Paul Pierce/ Kevin Garnett/ Kendrick Perkins PGSG SFPFC
Darren Collison/ Mo Peterson/ Peja Stojakovic/ David West/ Emeka Okafor
Key Matchups vs
Kevin Garnett vs David West
West is often the focal point of the Hornets offense without Chris Paul in the lineup and KG's defense will be needed in this game to try to keep him from going off on the Celtics.
vs
Paul Pierce (or Tony Allen) vs Peja Stojakovic
Paul Pierce is questionable for this game, but I expect him to play because if he sits out, then Doc will probably recommend that he sit out the All Star game and 3 point contest. If by some miracle Doc gets Pierce to sit, Tony Allen will be guarding Stojakovic, who is deadly from beyond the arc. Whoever guards him must stay on him to prevent a 3 point barrage.
Honorable Mention vs
Marquis Daniels vs James Posey
Past 6th man vs current 6th man. In his first game back from the thumb injury, Marquis looked great and the bench very much needs his leadership and energy.
Keys to the Game Defense The Celtics problems stem from their departure from playing tough team defense. They have been allowing too many easy baskets. When they lose defensive focus, they seem to unravel. They must get back to focusing on being the best defensive team in the league.
Play 48 Minutes The Celtics seem to play well for 3 quarters but they have one quarter in which they can do absolutely nothing. They must keep their focus for all 4 quarters.
Run the Offense The Celtics have to keep their focus on running the offense, making the extra pass and finding the open man. Individuals won't win games. Team will.
The 2008 Championship season was equal parts fantasy, tearjerker, and morality play. The long drought, the assemblage of aging greats whose careers had been spent carrying mediocre or bad teams, the resurgence of unselfish team play that was long a Celtic staple but was lost in the dark ages--these were the elements that captured the imagination and rewarded the long-suffering faithful. If you were unmoved by such a confluence of events then you have a stone heart and are no fan of the Celtics, or even basketball. Even non-believers were driven to grudging admiration at the way this team scythed through the opposition with such basic basketball fundamentals executed to perfection by focused, driven practitioners.
Fast forward through the next one and a half seasons of injuries and diminishing skills that left the hearty champions a mere shell of their dominant selves, only able to provide glimpses of the lightening in a bottle that marked the banner year. The insidious thief that is time slowly nibbled at the edges until duck-boat denizens were part-timers--partially healthy, part of the time, and able to do only part of what they formerly executed as a matter of course. The injuries became more frequent, the rehab longer, the recovery less complete; and these valiant warriors were slowly hobbled into submission.
The cognitive part of our awareness recognized the inevitable decline but the emotional attachment fiercely denied the increasingly obvious. The brain had to concede that the team could still be devastating when available, healthy, and in tune; but it also knew, sadly, that the spells of complete health and functionality were fewer, shorter, and more fragile. The heart suffered in anguish as the conquering warriors were being reduced to walking wounded who moved slower, lower, and with less precision. We want it to work, almost as badly as we wanted the dramatic turnaround the Big Three's arrival brought in 2008. We want it, but more and more we recognize that the odds grow prohibitively long that the train can avoid breaking down and being derailed. At some point we are just left whistling in the dark.
In spite of the realities of the writing on the wall, too much has been made of the "full complement" of the roster in the Sunday collapse. The Celtics were hardly at full strength. Garnett is maybe 80%, Pierce was even less. Daniels, while he performed exceedingly well, has months of rust and inactivity yet to knock off. Glen Davis is just starting to round (sorry, inadvertent pun) into game shape and recover his jump shot. Sheed has quick hands but slow feet, and maybe a slow mind for defensive rotations--how much due to middle age and how much due to sub-par conditioning is open to dispute. Still it is fair to ask, what is the likelihood that these flaws will be remedied, or that more cracks in the foundation won't appear to continue the decay?
Perhaps more troubling is the across-the-board response to the ongoing problems. Ubuntu has been lost in the individual efforts to single-handedly repair the facade. It used to be a rare occurrence that the ball stayed in any one player's hands for more than a couple of seconds. In recent weeks it is a common sight to see one-on-one play extending through half a dozen dribbles and resulting in a contested shot, turnover, or shot clock violation. Defensive rotations are slow, flat-out missed, or fall further and further behind until the C's give up easy shots or lay ups. The extra effort of boxing out or even checking on the bounce of a missed shot have given way to the leisurely retreat down court--Hey, I got back on defense! Sad when that becomes the easy way out. There has been a lot of saying "We've got to do better." Actually doing so, not so much. Once again lip service in lieu of effort.
This team has been so easy to like. As it slips away they are in danger of losing that, or even liking themselves.
![[image]](http://images.footballfanatics.com/productImages/_186000/FF_186036_s.jpg)
at ![[image]](http://images.footballfanatics.com/productImages/_186000/FF_186041_s.jpg)
![[image]](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.element/img/2.0/sect/basketball/nba/teampages/toppers/celtics_514x96.jpg)
![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/3026.jpg)
SG ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/9.jpg)
SF ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/662.jpg)
PF ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/261.jpg)
C ![[image]](http://assets.espn.go.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2018.jpg)
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![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/3973.jpg)
SG ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/656.jpg)
SF ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/813.jpg)
PF ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2177.jpg)
C ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/2399.jpg)
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vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/nohornets/WestNO.jpg)
![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/PierceBos.jpg)
vs ![[image]](http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/nohornets/PejaNo.jpg)
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vs ![[image]](http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/671.jpg)
